An exhibition charting seven million years of human evolution is now on display at Monaco’s Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, taking visitors from Toumaï — the oldest known member of the human lineage — to the emergence of Homo sapiens and the spread of our species across the planet.
From Toumaï to Sapiens, running until 15th October 2026 under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, is an illustrated, interactive and multimedia exhibition developed by Éditions Synops, with texts written by science journalist Pedro Lima and scientific oversight provided by CNRS palaeoanthropologist François Marchal. It traces the long migrations of early humans who invented tools, mastered fire and eventually left Africa to occupy every corner of the globe — a journey spanning roughly ten thousand generations.
Seven million years in one room
The exhibition follows the full hominine lineage, exploring the question of what it means to be human through fossil evidence, 3D reconstructions of prehistoric objects, video interviews with researchers and interactive quizzes. The format is designed to be accessible to a broad public while reflecting the latest scientific knowledge on human origins and morphological evolution.
Among the objects on loan are pieces from two prestigious partner institutions: the Musée de Préhistoire de Solutré — home to one of Europe’s richest prehistoric sites, occupied by humans for more than 50,000 years — and the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine in Paris, founded by Prince Albert I of Monaco in 1910 as the world’s first research centre entirely devoted to prehistory.
The connection between Monaco’s ruling family and the science of human origins runs deep: the museum itself was founded by Prince Albert I, and the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine continues to bear his name.
Practical information
The exhibition is open daily from 9am to 6pm at 56 bis, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, between the Jardin Exotique and the NMNM Villa Paloma.
Admission is €5, with reduced entry at €2.50 for students. Entry is free for children under 10, Monegasque residents on presentation of an identity card, and accredited press.
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Photos credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communications Department