Early Human Hands: Climbing and Tool-Making in Our Ancestors
A 2025 Science Advances study of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi shows hands built for both climbing and manipulation — key Paper 1 evidence for UPSC Anthropology.
fossil-evidence
Neanderthals Cared for a Child with Down Syndrome: Evidence of Social Behaviour
A Science Advances study of a Neanderthal child (‘Tina’) with Down syndrome points to caregiving and social behaviour — a strong Paper 1 example for UPSC Anthropology.
Xujiayao Hominin: One of the Largest Brains of the Middle Pleistocene
The Xujiayao hominin from China had one of the largest known Middle Pleistocene brains, challenging the idea of steady brain-size growth — key Paper 1 content for UPSC Anthropology.
Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau: Overlap with Modern Humans
Denisovans lived on the Tibetan Plateau and overlapped with modern humans; their EPAS1 gene helps Tibetans survive at high altitude — key human-evolution content for UPSC Anthropology Paper 1.