In 2004, the world was shocked by the discovery of Homo floresiensis. The discovery opened up worldwide debates about the validity of the species. To this day, the excavators and researchers are still examining the archaeological site at Liang Bua to get more insight into whether or not H. floresiensis was extinct before H. sapiens, or if their existence overlapped (Callaway et al., 2014). However, with the information from the excavation that already has already been researched, aids to the validity of the species. An examination of the history of the discovery, ancestral patterns, and the LB1 feet and mandible determines that H. floresiensis is, in fact, a novel species. The LB1 skeleton was recovered during an archaeological excavation …show more content…
Although, only some parts of the skeleton were found, they were essential to the investigation and provided tremendous insights into the origins of the species. The parts of the skeleton included the mandible, a relatively complete left foot and pieces of the right foot, also a fibula was found. These parts are crucial to the investigation because the bones that were found can determine the validity of the species. Since the feet were discovered, the archaeologists would have some insights if H. floresiensis were bipedal. Bipedalism is a distinguishing feature of hominins, and the feet of LB1 provide insights to bipedalism of H. floresiensis. Two ways the researchers determined if H. floresiensis is bipedal is by examining their feet and also the pelvis. Rokus Awe Due et al. (2009) claim that the bony pelvis, lower-limb bones and feet of H. floresiensis combine to reveal an unequivocal adaption to bipedalism. However, the skeletal design is significantly different compared to modern humans. Unlike modern humans the LB1’s foot is relatively long compared the to fibula, “the relative foot length in LB1 far exceeds the upper limits for modern humans of either average or short stature and instead overlaps with bonobos” (Jungers et al., 2009). Since the length of the femur …show more content…
floresiensis is a novel species or a pathological modern human. The mandible had to be reconstructed after it was removed from the sediment because it was discovered in multiple pieces. Brown et al. (2009) argue that morphological and metrical comparisons of the mandibles demonstrate that they share a distinctive suite of traits that place H. floresiensis outside of H. sapiens and H. erectus. A distinct, key feature of modern humans that differs from other hominins is the presence of a chin. The presence of a chin on H. floresiensis would indicate the species is pathological modern humans. However, an examination of the research concludes that there is no chin on the LB1 skeleton. Brown and Maeda (2009), claim that the linear dimensions of the LB1 mandible and comparative samples show that the mandibular dental arch is narrow anteriorly, long relative to its breadth, and therefore there is no true chin. There are specific mandibular characteristics that differentiate H. floresiensis from H. sapiens. The mandibular characteristics provide evidence that H. floresiensis is a novel species and is not a pathological modern human or an ancestor of an earlier
Chinese and Malaysian Homo Sapiens have very close features to the Neanderthal. The skull analysis of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens are usually considered more accurate if the entire skull is examined, rather than certain ...
A study performed by Martin Hausler and Peter Schmid of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, appeared in the October 1995 issue of Journal of Human Evolution, igniting controversy over the 1974 Australopithecus discoveries in Hadar, Ethiopia. The most famous of the Hadar specimens is the 3-million-year-old skeleton, “Lucy,” who was recovered by paleoanthropologist, Donald Johanson. In his article, Shreeve presents the methods and findings of Hausler and Schmid’s study as well as some counter arguments from other scientists in the field.
The partial remains of a skeleton belonging to a tiny female hominid that lived around 95K to 17Kya, was found in the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2003. This skeleton has unique traits. It has small body approximately 3’6” in length and an estimated body weight of 66 lbs. The 426 cc brain capacity led scientists to taxa the skeleton to a new species they called Homo floresiensis. Since the initial find, teeth and bones from as many as twelve H. floresiensis remains have been discovered at the Liang Bua cave which is the only known site where H. floresiensis has been found to date. This is the most recently discovered early human species so far. They had large teeth for their small size, they had no chins, their foreheads are receded, and they had relatively large feet in proportion to the short legs. Although they are small in body and brain size, H. floresiensis did make and use of stone tools. They hunted small elephants and large rodents. They had island predators such as giant Komodo dragons, and even may have used fire. However, arguments rising in the anthropology community and scientific world are questioning if the now nick named: “Hobbit”, of Flores Island, is the same species as modern day humans. Are they Homo species, or Homo sapiens with the medical condition called Cretinism? A severe hypothyroidism resulting in physical and mental stunting.
After analyzing the remaining family group, their appeared to be a difference in size among the discovered fossils. Johanson claimed that all the remains found belonged to one species; however, other anthropologists and scientists disagreed and believed that two or more were from different species. The analysis of Lucy’s knee joint indicated that cranium, mandible, dentation and postcranial skeleton contained unique characterizes, which resembled in a large degree the ones in a human being, and also indicated bipedal locomotion. After analyzing the remaining family group, their appeared to be a difference in size among the discovered fossils. Johanson claimed that all the remains found belonged to one species; however, other anthropologists and scientists disagreed and believed that two or more were from different
Feder and Park present a list of traits that are used by paleoanthropologists to distinguish the appearance of skeletal features and characterize these changes over time. Th...
It has been believed that culture is unique to humans and no other groups of animals have culture, but recent evidence refutes this ideology. Before getting into the meat of the argument, it is important to first address the issues regarding the ambiguity of the term, “culture.” What is culture? Many scientists may argue that culture is the way of life for a group of individuals, this definition includes the values, beliefs and traditions of the group (Sapolsky, 2006). Other scientists may argue that culture is the transmission of habits and information by social means (Sapolsky, 2006). Despite the different specifics of what culture is, almost all scientists would agree that culture is transmitted socially through social learning that promotes the transfer of information between members in a group (Boesch and Tomasello, 1998). Based on these notions of culture, it can be justifiably stated that primates have culture. Primates exhibit food preparation techniques, use of tools, communication skills, and most importantly, behaviors of social learning. An exemplar of primates’ capabilities for culture is Koko, the lowland gorilla. Koko, in captivity, was able to learn American sign language, demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to deceive.
Australopithecus afarensis existed between 3.9 and 3.0 million years ago. The distinctive characteristics of A. afarensis were: a low forehead, a bony ridge over the eyes, a flat nose, no chin, more humanlike teeth, pelvis and leg bones resembled those of modern man. Females were smaller than males. Their sexual dimorphism was males:females; 1.5. A. afarensis was not as sexually dimorphic as gorillas, but more sexually dimorphic than humans or chimpanzees. A lot of scientists think that Australopithecus afarensis was partially adapted to climbing the trees, because the fingers and toe bones of the species were curved and longer than the ones of the modern human.
Bipedalism had many advantages, but it also had many disadvantages and provided dangers to early hominids. Some of these disadvantages included i...
From the ancient bones of the Neanderthals, scientists have been able to extract small amounts of DNA. The DNA comparisons to modern humans show no relationship, implying evolutionary separation (Kunzig, 159). Some anthropologists say the small sections of DNA found are not conclusive evidence, because modern humans show just as much variation in DNA. These people point out that individuals such as the “Portugal Kid” are hybrids of Neanderthals and modern humans, showing there was gene trading. One argument against this is that there is no skull from the ‘Portugal Kid” so it is hard to compare it to Neanderthals. Also, it is known that closely related species can breed and their offspring can be fertile, but they are still separate species (Kunzig, 161).
Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted for well over 100,000 years. Then suddenly Homo neandertalensis began to die out and surrender the earth to Homo sapiens. Paleontologists and anthropologists have entertained several possibilities to the causes of this event: interbreeding among Neanderthals and humans, competition for natural resources, and Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest.” What the real cause has been has plagued scientists for years. Now, due to an international research team from Germany, those possibilities have been even further deduced, making it easier to pinpoint the exact reason Homo neandertalensis became extinct.
Hidden Figures is a film, it is the untold story of African-American women that is working in NASA, where they are being discriminate in the film. There is a segregation of bathrooms, staffs, facilities and libraries. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson worked as “human computers”. When Katherine was assigned to help calculate launch and landing trajectories of NASA’s Space task group on east campus, it is the start of the most hard time of her and her groups. The short film does a good try in showing how racism and discrimination, and integrity and teamwork affect and help us in achieving goals.
The human archaeological record is a long and undefined story that may be the most complex question researched today. One of the big questions in human history is the disappearance of the Neanderthal people from the archaeological record around 30,000 BP. While for thousands of years Neanderthals and Anatomically modern humans crossed paths and perhaps lived in close relations, we have yet to really understand the degree to which they lived together. My hypothesis is that these two hominids, Neanderthals and Anatomically Modern Humans, interbred exchanging genes after Modern Humans dispersed from Africa and creating like cultures and material remains. The differences between Neanderthal and Modern humans are not only physical but also genetically evolved and this research will determine an estimated amount of admixture between the two groups.
One of the most important and pivotal physical and biological adaptations that separate humans from other mammals is habitual bipedalism. According to Darwin, as restated by Daniel Lieberman, “It was bipedalism rather than big brains, language, or tool use that first set th...
also films that could have been seen for a small price, but if one has the time
The increase in brain size may be related to changes in hominine behavior (See figure 3). The third major trend in hominine development is the gradual decrease in the size of the face and teeth. According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia ’98, the fossil evidence for direct ancestors of modern humans is divided into the category Australopithecus and Homo, and begins about 5 million years ago (See figure 1). Between 7 and 20 million years ago, primitive apelike animals were widely distributed on the African and, later, on the Eurasian continents (See figure 2). Although many fossil bones and teeth have been found, the way of life of these creatures, and their evolutionary relationships to the living apes and humans, remain matters of active discussion among scientists.