Final answer:
The earliest hominins discovered include genera such as Ardipithecus, Sahelanthropus, and Orrorin. The Genus Homo emerged with species like Homo habilis and potentially Homo gautengensis. Significant early Homo fossils, such as Homo antecessor, suggest complex lineage patterns with multiple coexisting species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early Hominin Fossils
The earliest known hominins that have been discovered and recognized as part of the human evolutionary lineage belong to various genera and species. Over time, the discoveries of fossil specimens like Ardipithecus, Sahelanthropus, and Orrorin have pushed the origins of bipedal hominins back to nearly 4-7 million years ago. The genus Homo emerged around 2.5 to 3 million years ago, with species such as Homo habilis and potentially Homo gautengensis being among the earliest members of the genus. The Neanderthals, belonging to Homo neanderthalensis, are well-known hominins that lived between about 400,000 and 40,000 years ago, specifically found in Europe and the Middle East.One significant site for early Homo fossils is the Sima de los Huesos in Spain, where Homo antecessor remains date back to approximately 1.2 million to 800,000 years ago. This species might be a common ancestor to later European hominins, including Neanderthals and possibly our own species, Homo sapiens. However, determining the exact lines of descent is complex, as there were often multiple hominin species coexisting, and not all of them contributed to the lineage leading to modern humans.