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.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Thankfully, all they've found is dirt. If they hit rock,
the price would escalate and I'd be reconsidering why
I decided to do this.

Have a great one! ampu

[GarySpFc]

It sounds as if Bill Mayer died recently.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

And why are you here, when it's obvious that you don't care about what evolution states?

This is a political forum. Darwinism is cancer on conservatism.

[Palisades]

Darwinism is cancer on conservatism.

I know several conservatives, including my wife, who would jump off the conservative ride if creationism became the official position of the GOP.

One of the features of conservativism is, or is supposed to be, a reliance on facts, rather than feelings. The theory of evolution is supported by all of the available facts. Therefore, accepting the TOE is completely compatible with conservativism.

[balrog666]

It sets a standard he doesn't think he can reach.

BWAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Just what I was thinking.

[Beagle8U]

If you are happy in thinking that you are some sort of monkey byproduct, I'm very happy to allow you to relish that fact.

Have a nice day, and always believe in what you are.

[md2576]

I don't think you would be able to tell from bones if an animal were human. There is that little thing called a soul.

You're saying animals have no soul? So all dogs don't go to heaven then.

[VadeRetro]

The irony of this "tooth tale" is that the creationists involved have committed the same error they and other creationists have inaccurately attributed to evolutionary scientists--creating an entire human fossil from a single tooth!

I'd never heard of Orce Man before either, and I thought I'd heard them all. Carl Baugh AGAIN. Think if the same mainstream scientist had been responsible for Piltdown Man and Nebraska Man and Archaeoraptor.

But Carl Baugh can come back with a new one and fool the YECs every time.

[Dimensio]

Darwinism is cancer on conservatism.

Care to justify that?

[furball4paws]

Alas, poor Yorick.

[highball]

One of the features of conservativism is, or is supposed to be, a reliance on facts, rather than feelings. The theory of evolution is supported by all of the available facts. Therefore, accepting the TOE is completely compatible with conservativism.

I'm constantly amazed at how many "conservatives" are eager to adapt Lib tactics when evolution is concerned. Suddenly feelings become more important than facts, science is only valuable so far as it advances a political agenda, and lies are perfectly acceptible.

[Gumlegs]

Why does the thought that we are closely related to chimpanzees bother you so much?

For the same reason that the smart kid is always hated by the rest.

[WildHorseCrash]

I know several conservatives, including my wife, who would jump off the conservative ride if creationism became the official position of the GOP.

I'm one. In fact, I am VERY tempted to contribute to Santorum's opponent, based on the support he's given to the ID idiocy.

[highball]

That's disappointing. I didn't think he'd be sucked in by this silliness.

What support has be given to it?

[highball]

Sorry, let's try that again.

What support has he given to it?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fiddlstix. Ordinarily I don't ping the list for this kind of topic because it becomes a bloodbath in short order. However, this one appeals to me because it looks a little heretical -- the previously unknown primate from 14 million ya was dug up in Barcelona. :')

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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)

[ApplegateRanch]

Digging the large pits to begin the process is where the skull and other artifacts were discovered.

Thank you.

I was thinking 'dump' in terms of excavating at an ancient midden site.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I have yet to see a single ETer define conservatism coherently, athiest conservative is as much an oxymoron as queer conservative. Conservatives rely on tradition and practice not useless speculative theories. ET is as speculative useless and braindead as Marx's Das Kapital.

[Fresh Wind]

Cha-ka? There's a congressman from Philadelphia who goes by that name.

[Oztrich Boy]

I believe it was fair.

Yet another "just an opinion"