The answer to the question of who was the first person on earth is as diverse as the belief systems that define humankind. Some religions tell us that Adam was the first human created on earth, while others state that God created Eve as Adam’s helpmate. The Bible records the creation story in Genesis chapters one and two and says that man was created in the image of God.
1. Adam
According to various religions and philosophical systems, Adam was the first person to be created by God. The Bible says that God created Adam and made his wife, Eve, his helpmate. This story is recorded in Genesis chapters one and two. The Bible also says that humanity is special because it bears God’s image and is superior to other living things.
Hence, Adam was the first person to live on earth. However, numerous scientists say that humans existed before Adam, citing fossil evidence. In the Bible, Adam was the first man, but some fossils predate Adam by thousands of years. However, these fossils are not human ancestors but our hominid ancestors.
2. Manu
Manu was the first person to inhabit the earth and was credited for developing the basic laws of social and religious conduct. The person Manu served as the ultimate authority on proper behavior among ancient Hindus. Some of Manu’s traditions are still followed today, and many modern scholars have pointed out that these traditions restrict women’s freedom.
Manu was believed to be swayambhu (self-born) and married Shatarupa, the first woman. He had three daughters. Later, he married the sage Kardama. His daughters were Kapil, Yajna, and Akuti. Manu was also believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
3. Australopithecus
In 1974, anthropologist Donald Johanson discovered the remains of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old hominin. Her skeleton is only 40% complete. Lucy was a small female with a brain the size of an ape. Her skeletal remains, discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia, are the earliest known human ancestor species.
This species exhibited a unique blend of ape and human characteristics, including a long dangling limb, strong grasping legs, and pelvic bones suited for walking upright. In addition to the skeleton of Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis has been found in more than 400 fossil specimens from around the world.
Australopithecus africanus lived in South Africa 2.5 million years ago and inhabited a savannah grassland and woodland environment. It consumed plant-based foods, such as fruit and leaves. However, it was also possible for this early human to scavenge and eat animals for food.
4. Ramapithecus – Extinct Discovery on Earth
Ramapithecus was an extinct group of primates that lived around 12 to 14 million years ago and was considered a possible human ancestor on earth. This animal was first discovered in 1932 when fossils were discovered in N India and E Africa. Although the species was considered an apelike creature, some scientists believe it is more closely related to modern orangutans than humans.
According to the theory, Ramapithecus was a baboon-sized animal that lived in woodlands. It was mostly vegetarian, and it was adapted to its environment. It is also thought that Ramapithecus was the common ancestor of Pongidae and hominids.
5. Homo erectus
There are fossils of H. Erectus and other early humans discovered at the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, which dates back 1.77 million years. The fossils found here include the remains of early humans and Australopithecus. The fossils at this site are among the oldest discovered by scientists.
Early African fossils of Homo erectus have similar characteristics to modern humans. These include the wide, elongated legs and arms relative to the size of the torso, and the brain was smaller than in modern humans. The Turkana Boy fossil represents the oldest complete individual of this species.
6. Lucy- Skeletal Discovery on Earth
The discovery of Lucy’s skeleton in 1897 was a marvel, but what happened to the bones on earth? Researchers believe that Lucy may have died of injuries sustained in a fall. Their findings were announced in August 2016 in the U.S. The study used 35,000 virtual slices of Lucy’s skeleton to determine what caused her death. It showed that the right humerus was broken at an unusual angle, with clean and sharp breaks and fragments of bone still attached.
The IHO now has replicas of Lucy’s bones, and the fossils were created in the casting and molding labs at the IHO. The “real” Lucy is stored at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. Fossils of hominids are incredibly rare and fragile. Therefore, making a mold of the fossils makes it possible to produce an accurate replica. The casts can then be used for exhibits, research, and teaching purposes.