Paleoanthropology is a branch of physical or biological anthropology that deals with the study of human evolution through the examination of fossilized remains of ancient humans, human ancestors, and closely related primates. The term is derived from three words: “paleo,” meaning ancient, “anthropos,” meaning human, and “logia,” meaning the study of. Thus, paleoanthropology may be defined as the scientific study of the biological evolution of humans and their ancestors in the prehistoric past. It uses evidence from fossil bones, teeth, footprints, stone tools, archaeological remains, geological deposits, and other forms of material evidence to reconstruct the biological and cultural history of humans. Paleoanthropology is interdisciplinary in nature. It combines methods and knowledge from physical anthropology, archaeology, geology, palaeontology, genetics, comparative anatomy, primatology, and archaeology. Fossil discoveries belonging to groups such as Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and early Homo sapiens provide important evidence for understanding human evolution.