Femina Sapiens: Human Evolution and Our Female Ancestors is a unique illustrated guide that traces the grand journey of human evolution through text and illustrations, focusing on female fossils.

Upon picking it up, one is immediately drawn to the colorful illustrations on the cover. Among the densely depicted plants, animals, and archaeological artifacts, one figure stands out: an ancestor walking confidently with a stone tool in hand. Ah, it's a woman. If this image feels fresh, it may be because many of the prehistoric images we've seen so far have depicted men. This book provides an opportunity to rethink such preconceptions.

By the way, many people may wonder about the title, “Femina Sapiens.” In order to shed light on the women of Homo sapiens, the authors coined the term “Femina Sapiens,” a neologism that brings a smile to one's face, and used it as the title.

The book features various female members of human species that once existed, including Ardi (the Ardipithecus ramidus), the oldest fossil with a complete skeleton among our ancestors, and Lucy, the Afar hominin. Among them are Benhamina, a girl who lived until the age of 10 despite her disabilities, and Deni, a girl whose mixed heritage between Neanderthals and Denisovans was revealed through DNA analysis. The author, an anthropologist and museum communicator, introduces these ancestors in an easy-to-understand manner, along with the latest research findings. The illustrations by an illustrator who aims to “fuse science and art” resonate with the author's narrative. I feel that the collaboration between the two has made this book accessible to readers of all ages. In translating this book, I focused on academic accuracy while also selecting words that would convey the authors' passion as much as possible.

What left a strong impression on me were the footprints of hominids from 3.7 million years ago, preserved at the foot of a volcano in Africa. When I learned that the discoverer of these footprints was one of the female researchers introduced in the final chapter, “Women Who Blazed the Trail,” I felt a strange sense of wonder at how the vast journey of humanity and the life of a single woman intersected at the site of exploration. I hope that those who pick up this book will also find various insights and enjoyment.

Title: Femina Sapiens: Human Evolution and Our Female Ancestors
Author: Marta Justus (text), Diego Rodriguez Robredo (illustrations), Shinoda Kenichi (supervision), Amano Makiko (translation)
Page count: 41 pages
Publication date: June 25, 2025
Publisher: Nishimura Shoten
Price: 2,970 yen (tax included)

Amazon link (Japanese version)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4867060577?tag=wan03-22&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

Amazon link (English version)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/Femina-Sapiens-Marta-Yuste/dp/0500653895/r

Original article in Japanese by Makiko Amino
https://wan.or.jp/article/show/12018