The Roots Of Civilization Trace Back To ... Roots

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL- About five to seven million years ago, when the lineage of humans and chimpanzees split, edible root plants similar to rutabagas and turnips may have been one of the reasons. According to research by anthropologists Greg Laden of the University of Minnesota and Richard Wrangham of Harvard University, the presence of fleshy underground storage organs like roots and tubers must have sustained our ancestors who left the rain forest to colonize the savannah. They have published their research in the October issue of the Journal of Human Evolution. "You can think of roots as a kind of 'conveyor belt' ... they were somewhat available in the forest, but abundant on the savannah," said Laden. "Once roots were 'discovered,' chimp-like creatures would not only be able to survive on the savannah, but may well have been compelled to extend their range into more and more open habitats."

When our ape ancestors moved -- for reasons unknown -- onto the open, relatively treeless savannah, they left behind the rain forest and its abundance of fruit and leaves, the mainstays of modern chimpanzee diets. Laden and Wrangham believe that savannah-dwellers may have adopted game as their primary food in place of fruit. But for a fallback food, they may well have taken to eating roots and tubers, which are much more abundant on savannahs than in rain forests.

In the article, Laden and Wrangham say that the evidence lies in the fossil record, specifically teeth and jaws. The teeth and jaws of savannah dwelling apes evolved into large massive jaws, jaw muscles and molars, ideal for grinding roots instead of shearing leaves. The size of the teeth and jaws reflect the apes' secondary food source (roots) instead of primary foods like meats and fruits, which do not require such massive chewing abilities.

While our ancient ancestors may have left the rain forest for the savannah in pursuit of game meat, it was the ability to find and eat roots that may have contributed to the initial split between humans and the other apes. Laden and Wrangham's paper is available at www.sciencedirect.com

"When our ape ancestors moved -- for reasons unknown -- onto the open, relatively treeless savannah, they left behind the rain forest and its abundance of fruit and leaves, the mainstays of modern chimpanzee diets."

Yes, that's what I would have done, left my warm place, full of food source and protection To live in a cold, treeless barren place, before my ability to think, reason, eat and digest these things "evolved".

Who funds these idiots?

About five to seven million years ago, when the lineage of humans and chimpanzees split, edible root plants similar to rutabagas and turnips may have been one of the reasons.

Which came first?

Did the roots cause man to evolve and split from its chimpanzee like ancestors?

Or,

Did a genetic change occur before the chimpanzee descendant discovered that roots were edible?

Also, is a highly intelligent creature the only type that has discovered that roots are edible? Aren't there lower forms of animals that eat roots?

Turnips led to the split between chimps and human beings? Turnips also played a role in the split between Britain and the U.S.

The First Continental Congress met in reaction to the Intolerable Acts, which were the British government's reaction to the Boston Tea Party, which was a form of resistance to the tax on tea...which had been first instituted by Charles Townshend in 1767. He was the grandson of "Turnip" Townshend, so called for his encouraging the growing of turnips to restore nutrients to the soil.

6th/7th grade level? That must be some school. :'D

Mellaart got kicked out of Turkey over something else (he was basically an innocent victim IMHO) and only unearthed about 3 per cent of Catal Huyuk, but there's an active excavation there now, and Mellaart is no longer banned from the country. There's the official site for Catal Huyuk, but that's not really got much zip to it. Kids need mooooore. I recommend this site, which is by a friend of mine:

http://xenohistorian.faithweb.com/neareast/index.html

In books, the late Samuel Noah Kramer's "The Sumerians" is not all that thick, and would be good for kids to read. It also has the virtue of being more up to date than Woolley, the early excavator.

Mellaart's 1960 book on Near Eastern prehistory is actually not bad despite its age (and its author, who is a little bit unreliable) but probably not suitable for kids.

"Plato Prehistorian" (ostensibly an exploration of the Atlantis legend) discusses Mellaart's and others' studies of Catal Huyuk, although it is pretty long, and I'm sure way too dry for kids to read.

Do a web search for "Babylonian Chronicle" and "Synchronistic Chronicle", and see what turns up. Those are ancient accounts which overlap and contain similar information about kings, wars, crises, that kind of thing. Also, check for the Assyrian King List (several nearly identical ancient copies have turned up over the years).

Other searches which may be of interest include Jericho (occupation goes back at least 8000 years); the Preceramic culture which left the mainland and paddled off for Cyprus, where it established itself, approximately 8000 years BP; Anshan, the formerly lost capital city of Elam, which reportedly turned up about five years ago under some Iranian mound; also "The Curse of Agade" and of course, this:

Meteor Clue To End Of Middle East Civilisations
The Telegraph (UK) | 11-04-2001 | Robert Matthews
Posted on 01/03/2002 10:50:09 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/601395/posts

Evidence for Major Impact Events in the late Third Millennium BC
Evidence of Astronomical Aspects of Mankind's Past and Recent Climate Homepage | FR Post 9-4-2 | Timo Niroma
Posted on 09/04/2002 4:48:54 PM PDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/744698/posts

An Impact Event in 3114BC? The beginning of a Turbulent Millennium.
http://personal.eunet.fi/pp/tilmari/tilmari3.htm#bc3114
Posted on 01/03/2003 8:06:06 PM PST by ckilmer
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/816604/posts

Drop me an email soon, I may have more to send.

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