Maurice Wilson Collection

Proconsul africanus
An illustration of the extinct primate, Proconsul africanus. Like Dendropithecus, they mostly lived in tropical forests in East Africa during the Miocene about 50 million years ago

Aegyptopithecus zeuxis
Illustration of an Egyptian Ape by Maurice Wilson. The forerunners of both monkeys and apes. These small arboreal primates lived 35-32 million years ago in the tropical rain forests of northern Egypt

Ron Perry & Maurice Wilson (Windle BSA) 1976 500cc Sidecar TT
Ron Perry & Maurice Wilson (Windle BSA) at Ramsey, 1976 500cc Sidecar TT

Cro-Magnon man reconstructed head C013 / 6464
Reconstruction of the head of Cro-Magnon man. Cro-Magnon is the earliest European example of Homo sapiens. Cro-Magnons lived between about 40, 000 and 10, 000 years ago, in the Upper Paleolithic

Homo sapiens, Cro-Magnon man
A model head of Homo sapiens, Cro-Magnon man. Cro-Magnon man, an anatomically modern human lived around 30, 000 years ago in the Dordogne region of France. This model was created by Maurice Wilson

Homo neanderthalensis
A model head of Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) created by Maurice Wilson. Neanderthal man is believed to have lived between around 130, 000 and 35, 000 years ago

Homo sapiens, Cro-Magnon man head
A reconstruction of the head of Cro-Magnon man by Maurice Wilson, c. 1950. Cro-Magnon man is possibly Western Europes most famous anatomically modern human

Aepyornis maximus, elephant bird
Painting by Maurice Wilson from his drawings collection (1950)

Ichthyornis prehistoric bird, artwork C013 / 6463
Ichthyornis dispar prehistoric bird, artwork. This toothed seabird was found in what is now North America between 95 to 85 million ears ago, during the Cretaceous period

Ichthyornis dispar, cretaceous bird
Painting by Maurice Wilson (c. 1950)

Paranthropus boisei (based on OH5)
Illustration by Maurice Wilson of a three-quarter view of Paranthropus boisei, a robust australopithecus which lived in Southern and Eastern Africa

Sivapithecus indicus
Illustration by Maurice Wilson of Sivapithecus indicus, thick coated enamelled apes from Turkey and Indo-Pakistan dating from 13 million years ago

Paranthropus sp. (left) and Homo erectus (right)
Illustration by Maurice Wilson. 2 to 1.5 million years ago parts of Africa were populated by these two hominids. Paranthropus foraged peacefully but here is threatened by Homo erectus

Homo heildelbergensis, Broken Hill or Rhodesian Man
Illustration by Michael Wilson of a Rhodesian man (H. heildelbergensi) family reconstructed from fossils discovered at Broken Hill, Kabwe, Zambia

Piltdown Man (Model based on Piltdown 1 & 2)

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Maurice Wilson, also known as Proconsul africanus, was a man of many talents and interests. Not only did he excel in the world of motorcycling, as seen in his participation in the 1976 500cc Sidecar TT alongside Ron Perry with their Windle BSA team, but he also had a deep fascination with prehistoric beings. Wilson's curiosity led him to explore various species that once roamed the Earth. From Aegyptopithecus zeuxis, an ancient primate from Egypt, to Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis - our ancestors who walked this planet thousands of years ago - Maurice delved into understanding our evolutionary history. His passion for uncovering the past extended beyond humans; he even studied prehistoric birds like Ichthyornis. Through artwork and research, Wilson sought to bring these extinct creatures back to life. One notable project that captivated Maurice was the Piltdown Man. Based on Piltdown 1 & 2 discoveries, he meticulously created models that depicted this mysterious early human ancestor. His dedication to accurately representing these ancient beings showcased his commitment to scientific accuracy. In his quest for knowledge about our origins and those who came before us, Wilson explored Australopithecus africanus - another crucial piece in unraveling humanity's story. By studying fossils and reconstructing their heads through meticulous workmanship, he aimed to shed light on how we evolved over time. Maurice Wilson's diverse interests encompassed both modern-day pursuits like motorcycle racing and timeless questions about our existence as a species. His contributions not only enriched our understanding of prehistory but also inspired others to delve deeper into the mysteries of human evolution.