Posted on 01/19/2005 2:22:02 PM PST by aculeus
Fossil hunters working in Ethiopia have unearthed the remains of at least nine primitive hominids that are between 4.5 million and 4.3 million years old.
The fossils, which were uncovered at As Duma in the north of the country, are mostly teeth and jaw fragments, but also include parts of hands and feet.
All finds belong to the same species - Ardipithecus ramidus - which was first described about a decade ago.
Details of the discoveries appear in the latest issue of Nature magazine.
Scientists say features of a phalanx, or foot bone, unearthed at the site show the hominid it belonged to probably walked upright like a human.
"It is a very important finding because it does confirm hominids walked upright on two feet definitely 4.5 million years ago," said lead author Sileshi Semaw, of the Craft Stone Age Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, US.
A. ramidus is also marked out by its diamond-shaped upper canine teeth, which are more humanlike than the "v" shaped upper canines of chimpanzees. But overall, the creature probably looked more like a chimpanzee than a human.
Open Window
The age of the remains was estimated by dating volcanic material found in their vicinity.
"A few windows are now opening in Africa to glance into the fossil evidence on the earliest hominids," Dr Semaw explained.
"We now have more than 30 fossils from at least nine individuals dated between 4.3 and 4.5 million years old."
Another Ardipithecus species, A. kadabba , lived in Ethiopia around between 5.54 and 5.77 million years ago.
Genetic studies have suggested a common ancestor for modern apes and humans may have existed about six million years ago.
Ardipithecus may therefore represent an early step on the path which led to modern humans, as well as a number of other extinct hominid species.
Other fossils found at the site show that A. ramidus lived alongside monkeys, mole rats and cow-like grazing animals.
But the authors add that it's not clear exactly what sort of habitat the hominids lived in.
The area where the remains were unearthed would have had features of swamps, springs and streams, as well as regions that experienced seasonal droughts.
The first A. ramidus fossil was discovered in the Middle Awash region of Ethiopia in 1994 by palaeoanthropologists Tim White, Gen Suwa and Berhane Asfaw.
Published: 2005/01/19 21:03:45 GMT
© BBC MMV
I gave him a link to start the process, but most fear science because it might send them to H E Double Hockeysticks.
ROTFLOL spewing through nose............
Sitchin's theory has now been buttressed!
Art Bell PING
For some any challenge to their gestalt is frightening.
You might wish to update your knowledge of God.
Wow, are *you* missing the point...
Since R. Scott was too polite to put it bluntly enough for you to be unable to miss his meaning, allow me...
Look, you came in here and made a bone-headed comment about the *science* article, based very obviously on your ignorance of scientific dating methods. And you did it to impugn the professionalism, ability, and integrity of the scientists involved.
Quite naturally, R. Scott posted a gentle reminder that you really might want to *learn* something about this branch of science before you go off making a fool of yourself again, and let your lack of knowledge cause you to blunder into making another unjustified gross insult directed at the people who *do* know what they're doing.
Hint: Knowledge of *science* is actually relevant to discussion of a *science* topic such as this one.
But this apparently flew right over your head, and instead you posted the strange and irrelevant non sequitur, "You might wish to update your knowledge of God", as if a) he has actually demonstrated any *lack* in that field of knowledge (and nothing in this thread would support such a conclusion), and as if b) "knowledge of God" is somehow going to shed any light on radiometric and other forms of dating methods (I've read the Bible cover to cover, and somehow I missed *that* chapter...)
Are we clear now? And are we likely to see an apology any time soon?
I could offer a guess, based on what are probably thousands of data points ...
Thank you. You were much more polite than I could have been.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
Gods, Graves, Glyphs PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.