The Evolution of Man Model Set Reviewed

Safari Ltd, based in the United States of America, have introduced a set of five figures that represent the evolution of mankind. Available in a blister pack, the replicas show what palaeontologists believe some of our ancestors may have looked like. Accompanying a model of a caveman (our own species, H. sapiens ), there is a Neanderthal, H. erectus as well as Homo habilis and a replica of an Australopithecine ( A. afarensis ).

This set is going to prove very soft for teachers as they discuss topics such as evolution. This new for 2014 blister pack has come out just in time as teaching teams prepare to introduce a new national curriculum in the United Kingdom from September 2014.

Hand-Painted Australopithecines and Hominins

The figures range in size from six and a half centimetres tall (the Australopithecine), to over eight centimetres tall (Neanderthal and the Cro Magnon / Clovis man). It could be argued that these figures are roughly in the correct scale to each other, as A. afarensis , an upright walking ape, was much smaller than a modern person.

The Famous "Lucy" Fossil

The famous, Australopithecine fossil known as "Lucy" represents a member of the Australopithecines, specifically A. afarensis. The highly fragmentary fossils of an ape that walked upright was found in Ethiopia in 1979. As the Beatles track "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was being played in the camp at the time, the scientists decided to call their fossil specimen "Lucy" . The A. afarensis model in the Safari Ltd figure set, is standing upright (indicating the evolution of a bipedal stance), it is also holding a bone, suggesting primitive tool use.

Homo habilis – Comes Next

Next in the series is the slightly larger model of H. habilis. Although the replica does have very ape-like facial features and it is naked, it is holding a stone tool, a simple worked hand-ax and using a long staff to assist walking. The model demonstrates the genus known as "handy man" one of the first members of the hominins to be recognized in the fossil record.

Homo erectus – The Use of Fire

The next model in the five figure set is that of a H. erectus , a hominin that is believed to have worn simple clothes and manipulated fire. The figure is holding a lighted torch and the facial features are distinctly more human in form.

Homo neanderthal ensis and Modern Man

The final two figures in the series represent a Neanderthal complete with wooden spear and pony tail and a model human, Stone Age figure. We are not sure whether the modern human figure represents the Cro Magnon culture of Europe or the Clovis culture of North America. The human figure is equipped with a spear and spear throwing device. The spear is stone tipped, indicating progress from the Neanderthal culture. There is also a necklace of animal teeth which can be clearly seen.

Highly Recommended

The figures are well painted and they will make useful additions to a school's teaching resources as well as proving to be a novel and unusual figure set for the dinosaur model collector. Highly recommended.