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Trove of skulls...missing link in human evolution: early Neanderthals used teeth as 'third hand'
Daily Mail ^ | 19 June 2014 | ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD

Posted on 06/19/2014 7:50:23 PM PDT by Pharmboy

Full headline: Treasure trove of skulls reveal missing link in human evolution: Facial bones suggest early Neanderthals used their teeth as a 'third hand'

The 17 skulls belong to a single population of a fossil hominin species

This is the biggest collection of human fossils ever found on one site

They shed light on pre-human evolution from around 400,000 years ago Skulls showed Neanderthal features in face and teeth but not elsewhere

These features evolved due to eating and perhaps for use as a 'third hand'

Study adds to theories that the Neanderthals developed their characteristic looks slowly, and intermittently, over hundreds of thousands of years

Juan-Luis Arsuaga, a paleontologist, claims the findings were consistent with a 'Game of Thrones' evolutionary saga

The biggest collection of ancient human fossils ever recovered from one site is causing scientists to reconsider the path of human evolution. They reveal how Neanderthals, our sister species, developed their distinctive teeth before their brains, using them as a third hand for holding objects. The new study adds to theories that the Neanderthals evolved their characteristic looks slowly, and intermittently, over hundreds of thousands of years. Scroll down for video

Neanderthals’ trademark facial features took shape as a first step in their evolution, while their other defining features came along later, and not all at once, researchers have reported

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Science
KEYWORDS: creation; evolution; gingergene; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; humanevolution; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals; redhair; redhead; redheads
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To: Pharmboy
Where Do The Finns Come From?

"Grave findings have shown that late Palaeolithic settlers in central Europe and their Mesolithic descendants in the Scandinavian Peninsula were Europoids, who had compartively large teeth - a seemingly comical detail, but nevertheless an important factor in identifying these populations. Although it is very unlikely that the language of these settlers will ever be identified, I cannot see any grounds for the theory that either of these groups spoke Proto-Uralic."

"East Europeans have small teeth compared with the relatively large teeth of the Scandinavian, a peculiarity deriving from an age-old genetic distinction. Ancient skulls tell usthat the early settlers of east Europe were mostly descendants of an ancient east European population which lived in prolonged isolation from the Scandinavians. Perhaps the "Siberian" element in Finnish genes is, in fact, east European in origin? "

21 posted on 06/20/2014 5:57:03 AM PDT by blam
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To: Pharmboy
On one hand....

On the Other hand....

On the Biting Hand....

22 posted on 06/20/2014 7:15:08 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Wikipedia is wrong. who knew?)
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To: OldNavyVet

Even 13 years ago Jones’ opinion was not supported by the single mtDNA comparison available at that time, which involved fewer than 400 base pairs out of a presumed 16,000+ in the Heidelbergensis specimen when alive. That wasn’t in accord with the morphological similarities even in 2001 (and the study was done years before that), and a more complete picture has emerged with nuclear DNA (and that’s from Neandertal specimens rather than a single Heidelbergensis specimen).


23 posted on 06/21/2014 6:22:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

in local libraries
"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

24 posted on 06/21/2014 6:28:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Pharmboy; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
Thanks Pharmboy.

25 posted on 06/21/2014 6:31:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

“Trove of Skulls” — wasn’t that the opening for Mega Death and Thrasher?


26 posted on 06/21/2014 6:33:19 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Should have been, if not. :’)


27 posted on 06/21/2014 6:33:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Pharmboy; SunkenCiv; blam

I remember one of the very first theories I heard in jr. high school about human evolution was that we were separated from most mammals because we have an opposable thumb which enables us to grip things and use tools.

Now we learn that the Neanderthal may have had an additional feature-—the opposable tongue.

Does this mean that my old girlfriend who could tie a cherry stem into a knot in her mouth with her tongue was descended from the Neanderthals?

She ALSO had red hair come to think on it.


28 posted on 06/21/2014 7:21:58 PM PDT by wildbill
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To: wildbill

Mammals told me there’d be days like this.


29 posted on 06/21/2014 8:22:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: wildbill
"Does this mean that my old girlfriend who could tie a cherry stem into a knot in her mouth with her tongue was descended from the Neanderthals?"

Very likely.

30 posted on 06/21/2014 9:25:16 PM PDT by blam
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To: Oztrich Boy

No wonder they all died out. It’d be kinda hard to chew food with a mouth full of fingers.


31 posted on 06/22/2014 12:40:02 AM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: Pharmboy
Only the most intelligent of creatures could have learned to do use their teeth as a tool.


32 posted on 06/22/2014 1:09:39 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.)
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