Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestors

With hundreds of thousands of animal species occupying the planet over millions of years, how did Homo sapiens become the dominant form? This three-part PBS-aired NOVA documentary, written and directed by Graham Townsley, combines interviews with leading scientists, footage shot at various excavation sites, and computer-generated animation to offer some answers. “First Steps” introduces viewers to Selam, a 3-million-year-old fossil child providing clues about why early humans diverged from the apes and began walking upright. The second segment, “Birth of Humanity,” tells the story of Turkana Boy, designated as belonging to Homo erectus, a species able to hunt large prey, use fire, and develop social bonds—the first hominid ancestor to leave Africa and venture to other parts of the globe. The third episode, “Last Human Standing,” explores the evolution of modern humans, including changes in the brain that led to the unique ability to express feelings and emotions, as well as the capacity for art and invention. With Ethiopia's fossil-rich Great Rift Valley an important focal point, Becoming Human offers a compelling look at our origins, including the European cave dwellers called Neanderthals and such curious branches on the family tree as a 3-foot-tall “hobbit” found in Indonesia. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)