Ancient humans are having a moment. Here are the fascinating new things we've learned this week about our ancestors

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 1320 GMT (2120 HKT) April 3, 2020

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

This is one of the 408 human footprints preserved at the Engare Sero site in Tanzania. The fossilized footprints reveal a group of 17 people that traveled together, likely including 14 women, two men and one juvenile male.
Photos: Ancient finds
This is one of the 408 human footprints preserved at the Engare Sero site in Tanzania. The fossilized footprints reveal a group of 17 people that traveled together, likely including 14 women, two men and one juvenile male.
Hide Caption
1 of 147
Blade-like stone tools and beads found in Bulgaria's Bacho Kiro cave provide the earliest evidence for modern humans in Europe 47,000 years ago.
Photos: Ancient finds
Blade-like stone tools and beads found in Bulgaria's Bacho Kiro cave provide the earliest evidence for modern humans in Europe 47,000 years ago.
Hide Caption
2 of 147
This artist's illustration shows what an early, small ichthyosaur that lived 248 million years ago may have looked like. It resembled a cross between a tadpole and a seal, grew to be one foot long and had pebble-like teeth that it likely used to eat invertebrates like snails and bivalves.
Photos: Ancient finds
This artist's illustration shows what an early, small ichthyosaur that lived 248 million years ago may have looked like. It resembled a cross between a tadpole and a seal, grew to be one foot long and had pebble-like teeth that it likely used to eat invertebrates like snails and bivalves.
Hide Caption
3 of 147
This is an artist's illustration of Adalatherium hui, an early mammal that lived on Madagascar 66 million years ago.
Photos: Ancient finds
This is an artist's illustration of Adalatherium hui, an early mammal that lived on Madagascar 66 million years ago.
Hide Caption
4 of 147