Final answer:
The first major hominin sites were in Africa, with further evidence of early hominins found across Europe, Asia, and eventually Australia. Homo erectus was the first species to migrate out of Africa roughly 1.8 million years ago. Major archaeological sites include the cave of Lascaux in France, the Laetoli footprints in East Africa, and the Atapuerca region in Spain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first major hominin sites were located within Africa, where the journey of human evolution began. As hominins evolved, their presence expanded into locations such as Europe and Asia. The first species of the human genus, Homo, appeared between 2.5 and 3 million years ago.
One of the most notable hominin species, Homo erectus, emerged around 1.8 million years ago in East Africa and was the first to migrate out of Africa, with evidence of their existence found in multiple continents. Major sites such as the cave of Lascaux in France, where early Homo sapiens coexisted with Neanderthals, are evidence of these species adapting to different geographical regions over time.
Homo antecessor, another important species, was discovered in the Sierra de Atapuerca region of Spain and provides evidence for the genus Homo's presence in Europe as far back as 1.2 million to 800 thousand years ago. Another critical find is the Laetoli footprints in East Africa, dated around 3.5 million years ago, which showcase evidence of early bipedalism likely from Australopithecus afarensis.