Sahelanthropus tchadensis,
Toumaï, Skull and Femur

On July 19, 2001, early morning, the head (skull and mandible) of a hominid was picked up in the sand on the surface of the sandstone layer in the Chadian Sahara in the midst of the dunes of the Djourab erg. Very ancient, due to the testimony of the fauna surrounding them, and particularly well preserved, these fossils are in line with the fundamental discoveries allowing to retrace the origins of the Man. An hominid femur was among the fossils that an anonymous hand had placed near the head ('Was Toumaï (Sahelanthropus tchadensis) buried ?).

The inventors ('those who discover a treasure' according to the Larousse dictionary) are four, three Chadians (Fanoné Gongdibé, licentiate in natural sciences from the University of Yaoundé, an engineer in the Department of Mines and Geology of the Ministry, déetached to the National Center for Research Support (CNAR) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Ahounta Djimdoumalbaye, licentiate in natural sciences from the University of N'Djaména, a CNAR vacant, and Mahamat Adoum, a CNAR contractual) and a French scientist (Alain Beauvilain, doctor es Letters-geography), detached from the University of Paris X Nanterre to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving at CNAR as head of the Cooperation Project 'Supporting Paleontological Research. Alain Beauvilain was the chief of this mission. Issa Adoum, a CNAR contractual, initially planned, could not participate in the mission.

Above, TM 266, 8 h, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, 'Toumaï', replaced in its exact position of discovery.

Below, a few minutes later, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, 'Toumaï', placed for the photo, in the center of an assemblage of fossils, including an hominid femur, disposed thus from an unknown date. The mandibular symphysis has not yet been displaced because it has not yet been identified as such.

Photographs Alain Beauvilain

The right profile of Toumaï (before the missing part of the canine -  that was found on 1 November 2001, exactly where the skull was located, as a result of screening by Fanoné Gongdibé - is not properly subsequently glued) and the base of the skull with the foramen magnum visible. Photograph Alain Beauvilain.

(More details on teeth : Toumaï shows the teeth)

The base of the skull and the place of the foramen magnum ('occipital hole') clearly visible in a female gorilla, an australopithecine and in Sahelanthropus tchadensis before reconstruction (photo of the original on TM266, the site of discovery), and after reconstruction.

The 'femur of Sahelanthropus tchadensis 'Toumaï'', an hominid femur found on July 19, 2001 among the fossils adjoining the head of Toumaï (photograph Aude Bergeret)

A degraded hominid femur was found near the cranium of Sahelanthropus tchadensis (Toumaï). Quickly identified as such, it will require an insinuation by Alain Beauvilain in the South African Journal of Science, Vol 100, September-October 2004, then his photograph in the Anthropologie XLVII/1-2 pp. 1-6 2009 so that its existence is more widely known.

To know more : John Hawks : 'Sahelanthropus 'the femur of Toumaï' (deleted blog page)