Ancient Ape Ruled Out Of Man's Ancestral Line

Science Daily ^ | 12/8/06 | Univ. of Leeds/Other

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Ancient remains, once thought to be a key link in the evolution of mankind, have now been shown to be 400,000 years too young to be a part of man's family tree.

The remains of the apeman, dubbed Little Foot, were discovered in a cave complex at Sterkfontein by a local South African team in 1997. Its bones preserved in sediment layers, it is the most complete hominid fossil skeleton ever found. (Photo Credit: Alf Latham)

The remains of the apeman, dubbed Little Foot, were discovered in a cave complex at Sterkfontein by a local South African team in 1997. Its bones preserved in sediment layers, it is the most complete hominid fossil skeleton ever found.

snip

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Little Foot is of the genus Australopithecus, thought by some to be part of the ancestral line which led directly to man. But research by Dr Jo Walker and Dr Bob Cliff of the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment, with Dr Alf Latham of Liverpool University's School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, shows the remains are more than a million years younger than earlier estimates.

More at link above

[Steely Tom]

Ancient Ape Ruled Out Of Man's Ancestral Line

And don't come back!

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

LOL, Wasn't expecting that. I remember when this find hit FR, I can't seem to find the original post of it's discovery. I'd like to ping the usual suspects.

[Irisshlass]

I just couldn't imagine my great great great great... grandmother sitting in a tree eating bananas.

[Jeff Chandler]

I'm waiting for pics of Helen Thomas or Rosie O'Donnell.