Paleoartist John Gurche's sculptures of early human likenesses are on view at the Smithsonian's Hall of Human Origins.
John Gurche's "Shaping Humanity"
![Paleoartist John Gurche’s reconstructions span more than six million years of human evolution. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)](https://gdb.voanews.com/E563F5C4-0569-4377-91D5-DDC3546A270C_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
1
Paleoartist John Gurche’s reconstructions span more than six million years of human evolution. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)
![Reconstructions begin with a cast of a skull. Unlike dissection, the artist works from the inside out, layer by layer. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)](https://gdb.voanews.com/B3686ABB-6C3D-4A99-A280-C9F0F59EC414_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
2
Reconstructions begin with a cast of a skull. Unlike dissection, the artist works from the inside out, layer by layer. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)
![The artist takes cues from the fossilized skull and knowledge of human and ape anatomy to create forensically accurate models. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)](https://gdb.voanews.com/E9AA0AEB-D268-4D29-BC96-792F2BE49429_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
3
The artist takes cues from the fossilized skull and knowledge of human and ape anatomy to create forensically accurate models. (John Gurche, “Shaping Humanity”)
![This small human-like creature, Australopithecus afarensis, lived 3.2 million years ago and walked upright on two feet. (John Gurche, ”Shaping Humanity")](https://gdb.voanews.com/BC719E92-F5F9-4ED8-9496-34E1EB6C9CDE_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
4
This small human-like creature, Australopithecus afarensis, lived 3.2 million years ago and walked upright on two feet. (John Gurche, ”Shaping Humanity")