People of the Lake

work by Leakey and Lewin

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July 1, 2026

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"People of the Lake" is a book co-authored by Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin that explores human evolution. The book discusses the significant fossil finds at Lake Turkana in Kenya, a site that has yielded an extensive collection of hominin fossils representing numerous individuals and several species of Homo and australopiths. Leakey's controversial interpretations, presented in the book, suggest that Homo habilis evolved into Homo erectus, the direct ancestor of modern humans. The book also touches upon early human tools and potential evidence of intergroup warfare.12

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Richard Leakey
…Roger Lewin, Origins (1977) and People of the Lake (1978), Leakey presented his view that, some 3 million years ago, three hominin forms coexisted: Homo habilis, Australopithecus africanus, and Australopithecus boisei. He argued that the two australopith forms eventually died out and that H. habilis evolved into Homo erectus, the…
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…Roger Lewin, Origins (1977) and People of the Lake (1978), Leakey presented his view that, some 3 million years ago, three hominin forms coexisted: Homo habilis, Australopithecus africanus, and Australopithecus boisei. He argued that the two australopith forms eventually died out and that H. habilis evolved into Homo erectus, the…
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