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1,222,266 views | Zeresenay Alemseged • TEDGlobal 2007

The search for humanity's roots

Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged looks for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about finding the oldest skeleton of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to our humanity.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged looks for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about finding the oldest skeleton of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to our humanity.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Zeresenay Alemseged

Paleoanthropologist

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Zeresenay "Zeray" Alemseged digs in the Ethiopian desert, looking for the earliest signs of humanity. His most exciting find: the 3.3-million-year-old bones of Selam, a 3-year-old hominid child, from the species Australopithecus afarensis.