BEFORE WE WERE US | A TIMELINE IN BONE
BEFORE WE WERE US | A TIMELINE IN BONE presents a broad view of some of our earliest ancestors. This work seeks to illustrate the faces that shaped who we are today, offering perspective on humanity’s past.
The timeline begins with the Australopithecus group, featuring A. afarensis—better known as “Lucy”—and moves through early hominids to Homo sapiens and the present day. This list is not exhaustive; some species are absent due to limited access to publicly available images or incomplete composite skull reconstructions. Whenever possible, full faces were included, though some remain incomplete, such as those missing mandibles (jawbones). The goal is to give viewers a glimpse—however brief—into the lives of our ancestors. As Nikos Kazantzakis wrote, “Life’s true face is the skull.” This piece seeks to breathe life into those faces.
The timeline and skull sizes are not to scale. Each illustration is drawn at roughly the same size to give equal visual weight and allow close comparison. For this reason, the visual sequence is approximate; more accurate dates are provided in the descriptions beneath each skull.
It is important to note that this is not a family tree, nor does it depict direct ancestral lineage. Representing such relationships would limit the space available for each skull, diminishing their individual presence. Instead, this piece serves as a visual timeline. The skulls themselves remain the focal point—balancing clarity with complexity, and history with human presence.