1.8M-year-old skull gives glimpse of our evolution

Started by walkstall, October 18, 2013, 07:30:06 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

walkstall


snip~
DMANISI, Georgia (AP) — The discovery of a 1.8-million-year-old skull of a human ancestor buried under a medieval Georgian village provides a vivid picture of early evolution and indicates our family tree may have fewer branches than some believe, scientists say.

The fossil is the most complete pre-human skull uncovered. With other partial remains previously found at the rural site, it gives researchers the earliest evidence of human ancestors moving out of Africa and spreading north to the rest of the world, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

The skull and other remains offer a glimpse of a population of pre-humans of various sizes living at the same time — something that scientists had not seen before for such an ancient era. This diversity bolsters one of two competing theories about the way our early ancestors evolved, spreading out more like a tree than a bush.

Nearly all of the previous pre-human discoveries have been fragmented bones, scattered over time and locations — like a smattering of random tweets of our evolutionary history. The findings at Dmanisi are more complete, weaving more of a short story. Before the site was found, the movement from Africa was put at about 1 million years ago.

When examined with the earlier Georgian finds, the skull "shows that this special immigration out of Africa happened much earlier than we thought and a much more primitive group did it," said study lead author David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgia National Museum. "This is important to understanding human evolution."

For years, some scientists have said humans evolved from only one or two species, much like a tree branches out from a trunk, while others say the process was more like a bush with several offshoots that went nowhere.


more @
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20131017/EU-SCI-Early-Human/
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

TboneAgain

I can't believe it. That looks exactly like my Uncle Fred.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. -- Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; IT IS FORCE. -- George Washington

walkstall

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 18, 2013, 07:00:24 PM
I can't believe it. That looks exactly like my Uncle Fred.

On your mothers side or your fathers side?
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

daidalos

Why do they say "pre human"? If it's the skull of a direct ancestor of ours, then it's human, as we are human.

Simply ignoring the missing link, doesn't mean the problem goes away. :)
One of every five Americans you meet has a mental illness of some sort. Many, many, of our veteran's suffer from mental illness like PTSD now also. Help if ya can. :) http://www.projectsemicolon.org/share-your-story.html
And no you won't find my "story" there. They don't allow science fiction. :)

Little Nan

My question is if this points to evolution as being credible. 

Also can you believe in evolution and still believe in God as your creator???  Personally, I think it is possible, but would like to hear what others think. 

Thanks.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."  Albert Einstein

walkstall

Quote from: Little Nan on February 09, 2014, 04:36:58 PM
My question is if this points to evolution as being credible. 

Also can you believe in evolution and still believe in God as your creator???  Personally, I think it is possible, but would like to hear what others think. 

Thanks.

Call it God or what ever you like.  You can not have one without the other.  But that's just my way of thinking.   
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

Gaunt

Quote from: Little Nan on February 09, 2014, 04:36:58 PM
My question is if this points to evolution as being credible. 

Also can you believe in evolution and still believe in God as your creator???  Personally, I think it is possible, but would like to hear what others think. 

Of course you can. I do, and so should you. The problem is that evolution is essentially a proven fact. There really isnt much wiggle-room for the YEC types any more.

But what the militant athiests often get flat-out wrong is that there is no contradiction between evolution and an all-powerful creator. None at all.

mdgiles

Quote from: Little Nan on February 09, 2014, 04:36:58 PM
My question is if this points to evolution as being credible. 

Also can you believe in evolution and still believe in God as your creator???  Personally, I think it is possible, but would like to hear what others think. 

Thanks.
And you assume that The Almighty works on your timelines and in ways understandable to man - because?
"LIBERALS: their willful ignorance is rivaled only by their catastrophic stupidity"!