Can you tell me about Homo Erectus and the Australopithecines?

Dr. dig responds:
Australopithecines have been found only in East and South Africa. They are some of our earliest hominid ancestors and they lived between four to one million years ago.

Australopithocenes had bigger brains than their earlier ape-like ancestors. One of the oldest, most complete australopithocene skeletons is that known to the world as "Lucy", which was excavated in Ethiopia. It was named Lucy after the Beatles' song, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, which the archaeologists listened to during the celebration after the discovery.

Homo Erectus lived between 4 and 1 million years ago. Homo Erectus, unlike other earlier hominids, is found not only in Africa, but also in Asia and Europe. It had a larger brain with 6 skull bones and prominent brow ridges.