Human Migration Map Lauren Watkins

Integrated Information Design

Project 1

Case Study 17 October 2012

Project Statement

Company: The Smithsonian’s Human Origins Initiative “The initiative’s goal is to explore the universal human story at its broadest time scale. It seeks to stimulate new research findings that deepen an understanding of what makes our species unique and how we came to be.” They want to expand the public’s knowledge and understanding of human evolution. http://humanorigins.si.edu/resources/about The Smithsonian Their mission is “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” their vision is “shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world.” http://www.si.edu/About/Mission Problem: The Smithsonian website and National Museum of Natural History has a section on “What does it mean to be human?” that is funded by the “Human Origins Initiative.” This “web site is dedicated to bringing you the excitement, latest findings, and profound implications of the scientific exploration of human origins.” There are many lists of facts and lists of timelines accompanied by generic images. Lists of facts are boring and can be hard to understand. There is no migration timeline. Opportunity: This problem gives us the opportunity to expand visitors’ knowledge by presenting the information in a easier to understand, graphic style. There is a need for a timeline of the first anatomical humans from Africa to the rest of the globe. By creating an info-graphic of the human evolution timeline, the information will be easier and more interesting to read. It will invite and incise more viewers, which will ultimately create a more educated public. Solution: The solution is an interactive map of the world for the site. The start is Africa and the end is South America. Above the map will be a timeline starting at 200,000 years ago, the estimated date of the first anatomically modern human. Each section of the globe where humans migrated will be in a different color according to the time they migrated to that location. There will be pinpoints on significant findings for that area and time. On rollover of these pinpoints, further information about that point will pop-out.

Mood Boards

Destination

Sketches

Progress

NileRiver

Red Sea

AndamanIslands

Meadowcroft19,000-12,000 years ago

Kennewick9,500 years ago

Spirit Cave9,500-9,400

years ago

Monte Verde14,800 years ago

Niah Cave40,000 years ago

Qafzeh100,000years ago

Lake Mungo45,000 years ago

Malakunanja50,000 years ago

Omo KibishOldest modern human195,000 years ago

Pestera cu Oase35,000 years ago

Yana River30,000 years ago

Zhoukoudian(Shandingdong)

11,000 years ago

Minatogawa18,000 years ago

Clovis13,500years ago

Klasies River Mouth120,000 years ago

EQUATOR

40,000-30,000years ago

20,000-15,000years ago

50,000years ago

15,000-12,000years ago

200,000 years ago

70,000-50,000 years ago

40,000years ago

AUSTRALIA

ASIA

AFRICA

EUROPE

NORTHAMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

1

2

3

4

5

6

Migration date Generalized route

Human MigrationFossil or artifact site

40,000years ago

SOURCES: SUSAN ANTON, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY; ALISON BROOKS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY; PETER FORSTER, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE; JAMES F. O'CONNELL, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH; STEPHEN OPPENHEIMER, OXFORD UNIVERSITY; SPENCER WELLS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY; OFER BAR-YOSEF, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

NGM MAPS

© 2006 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.

200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000

200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000

200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000

200,000 70,000 40,000 20,000 12,00050,000100,000

Sources

"Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program." Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://humanorigins.si.edu/>. "Human Journey, Human Origins - National Geographic Magazine." Human Journey, Human Origins - National Geographic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0603/feature2/map.html>. "Timeline of Dietary Shifts in the Human Line of Evolution." Timeline of Dietary Shifts in the Human Line of Evolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.beyondveg.com/nicholson-w/hb/hb-interview1c.shtml>. map image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/LocationAntarctica.png