Carriers conveying small ancestors of ours? (8)

I believe the answer is:

hominids

'ancestors of ours?' is the definition.
(the ancestors of humanity were hominids)

'carriers conveying small' is the wordplay.
'carriers' becomes 'hods' (containers for carrying coal).
'conveying' indicates putting letters inside.
'small' becomes 'mini' (I've seen this before).
'hods' placed around 'mini' is 'HOMINIDS'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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