Final answer:
The oldest hominin fossils are found in Africa, the continent where humanity began. Evidence such as Sahelanthropus tchadensis or the Australopithecus afarensis footprints highlight Africa's central role in human evolutionary history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oldest hominin fossils have been unearthed on the continent of Africa. Africa is the cradle of humanity, where the earliest ancestors of modern humans evolved and from where they migrated to other parts of the world. Indeed, some of the oldest hominin fossils date back to nearly seven million years ago, with famous discoveries like Sahelanthropus tchadensis, informally known as “Toumai,” found in Chad. Additionally, the renowned Australopithecus afarensis footprints discovered in Tanzania by Mary Leakey are 3.6 million years old, further cementing Africa's status as the principal site for early human evolutionary history.
Evidence such as early stone tools and intermediate forms between Homo erectus and modern humans have indeed also been found in Europe and Asia, but none precede the African record. The genus Homo, which includes Homo habilis and more recently discovered Homo gautengensis, both of which display characteristics closer to modern humans, first appeared on the African continent between 2.5 and three million years ago. As such, for those seeking to study the dawn of humankind, Africa remains the primary repository of our oldest ancestors.
In summary, to find the oldest hominin fossils, one must look to the vast and rich archaeological sites distributed across Africa, where continuous discoveries keep enriching our understanding of human evolution.