Prehistoric skull found in dump may be missing common ancestor of apes & humans

The Guardian ^ | Monday November 7, 2005 | Dale Fuchs in Madrid

[dead]

Palaeontologists excavating a dump outside Barcelona have found a skull dating back 14m years that could belong to a common ancestor of apes and humans.

The nearly intact skull, which has a flat face, jaw and teeth, may belong to a previously unknown species of great ape, said Salvador Moya, the chief palaeontologist on the dig. "We could find a cradle of humanity in the Mediterranean," he said.

A routine land survey for a planned expansion of the Can Mata dump in Els Hostalets de Pierola turned up the first surprise in 2002: a primate's tooth.

Since then, scientists from the Miquel Crusafont Institute of Palaeontology in Sabadell have unearthed nearly 12,000 fossils of primates and other animals that lived during the Middle Miocene era - between 14m and 8m years ago - when the area was covered by tropical rainforest and populated by the precursors of today's elephants, antelopes and monkeys.

Last year, the team found a 13m-year-old partial skeleton, also believed to be a common ancestor of apes and humans - a male fruit-eater, nicknamed Pau.

"If there is a place in the world where it is possible to find an entire skeleton of a common ancestor to the great apes and humans, it is Hostalets de Pierola," Mr Moya told El País newspaper. "In few places [will] you uncover so many connected vertebrae in such good condition."

The Can Mata dump sits above clay soil in which animal remains became trapped and well-preserved.

[Dustbunny]

I stand by what I think. Facts would change that but so far I have not read or seen solid facts.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"I know you're blind to common sense but this struck me funny. How many "transitional" skulls must you hear about and later learn they're a hoax?"

Other than Piltdown Man (which was uncovered by scientists long ago and was never fully accepted anyway), name a transitional skull that has been a *hoax*.

[nmh]

Too many to mention and you know it ... .

Atleast you admit to one of them.

I also found the evolutionists version or hoax, yet again, on how we evolved from fish. That too was a another hoax and it goes on and on and on.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"Too many to mention and you know it ..."

So you lied and had no other examples. I didn't think you would. Thanks for proving my point; Creationists only have lies to support there case.


"I also found the evolutionists version or hoax, yet again, on how we evolved from fish. That too was a another hoax and it goes on and on and on."

Again, wild accusations, no evidence. Typical creationist twaddle. BTW, we DID evolve from fish, though obviously not directly. Where's the *hoax*?

[nmh]

NO, I refuse to waste my time on the obvious.

You're not interested in truth. You're more interested in believing what you wish - regardless that the evidence states otherwise.

Dream on, boy.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"NO, I refuse to waste my time on the obvious.

You're not interested in truth. You're more interested in believing what you wish - regardless that the evidence states otherwise.

Dream on, boy."

Name the other *hoaxes*. Or admit you lied and you know of no others than *Piltdown Man* (which, as I said, was not uniformly believed by evolutionists and was uncovered as a fraud by scientists. It hasn't been a part of ANY curriculum for at least 50 years or more.)

I won't hold my breath, BOY.

[stboz]

Dang! Who cares?!

God decided that this particular model didn't work as planned. Chuck it on the trash pile!

Back to the drawing board.