One Million-Years-Old (Human) Footprints Found At Margalla Hills (Pakistan)

Dawn ^ | 7-27-2007 | Sher Baz Khan

[blam]

1m-years-old footprints found at Margalla Hills

By Sher Baz Khan

ISLAMABAD, July 27: In what appears to be a major discovery, archaeologists have found two over one million years old human footprints preserved on a sandstone at the Margalla Hills.

The Indusians Research Cell, which is working under the supervision of world renowned archaeologist and historian Dr Ahmad Hassan Dani of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, has made the discovery, which is likely to add a new chapter to the archaeological history and heritage of the federal capital and attract visitors.

A footprint of 1 feet is in complete and well preserved form while another is broken from the finger side which is also of the same size in comparative manner. The notable marks of the feet are the clear veins and opposite folded appearance.

“A huge stone on the top of the hill is the secure home of these prints since about over one million years ago,” says A.K. Azad, an archaeologist and head of the project.

Further research may give more clues of the foot marks through anthropological and geophysical methods, he observed.

The recent discovery is the continuity of the Indusian Research Cell’s earlier research about human evolution which previously revealed a fossilised upper jaw from the site of Dhudhumber, foot and hand prints from Attock and Palaeolithic cave from Margalla hills.

Pakistan’s geomorphologic research was conducted to compare with the Alps of Europe during the period of 1930-1939 by a French mission. Since then, lots of other dimensions of the research opened the doors of scientific research in Pakistan as the country provided the glacial sequence, fossilised evidences of Pre-Cambrian to Holocene epochs, earliest evidences of the anthropoid existence, earliest cultural centre at Mehargarh (contemporary of Jericho and Jarmo) and most advanced civilisation of the world (Indus valley).

Indusians Research Cell started the second phase of the project “Post-earthquake Explorations of Human Remains in Margalla Hills” under the supervision of A.K. Azad.

According to Mr Azad the formation of the Margalla Hills goes back to the Miocene epoch. The dominant limestone of the Margalla is also mixed with the sand stone.

“So we can assume that due to availability of the water in ancient times many marks of the zoological as well botanical significance may lead to our objectives,” the young archaeologist hopes.

In 1976, Pakistan opened another chapter of human evolution, which makes case for Asian anthropoid origin from this region.

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Pilbeam led expeditions to the Siwalik Hills badlands of northern Pakistan, searching for further Ramapithecine remains.

In March 1975 and January 1976 team members made surface recoveries of four bone fragments which fit together to form the most complete mandible recovered yet. The mandible shows that Ramapithecus did not have a parabolic, human like dental arcade, as originally thought, but rather a V-shaped, more apelike arcade. Though the shape of the arcade is not now regarded as one of the more anatomically important characters, Ramapithecus is no longer granted the high status that it once received.

Different scholars have defined the word ‘Potohar’ differently. But, anthropological research marked it, as the grand father of hominid, also known as Punjabicus found from the Potohar region.

So the government of Pakistan had given the name to this specie Potoharmans.

According to Mr Azad, the problem of human evolution is still hanging around that when and where Anthropoid got physical changes from the Apes?

After India, Kenya and China, he says important discovery was from the Potohar region from fossils of the similar species found in 1976 and 1982. The probable dating given to this specie was 20 million years.

“It has provided a missing link, which was spread of 6 million years. So Potoharmans declared as the grand father of hominid, which evolved from the different stages and reached at the Homo sapiens,” he observes.

The stories behind the similar marks are also significant in mythical associations with saints and renowned people i.e. hand prints of the Baba Guru Nanik near Hassanabdal, foot prints of Hazrat Ali in Hyderabad, foot prints of the Guru Padma Sambhava (Second reincarnation of Buddha) in Swat, Adam’s peak of Sri Lanka etc.

“If these are true than we can also claim of the mother Eve’s foot prints from Margalla Hills,” Mr Azad observed.

[Mr. Mojo]

There's a place for you in the Gullible Hall of Fame.

First ballot.

[Creationist]

As is with your faith in the religion of evolution.

[sodpoodle]

I’m not going there!

Neither a pharisee or a photospectrometrist.

[Creationist]

Then why would you assume I am gullible

[sodpoodle]

I don’t assume you are gullible - you’re not, are you?

[Creationist]

http://www.icr.org/article/200/

[gondramB]

>>Well, it is either Creation OR Evolution. Can’t be BOTH. And I do not believe in evolution or Big Bang. To believe that you must believe that a hurricane or tornado goes through a junk yard and a 747 jet is formed by the tornado.<<

The very first life could have been (and I believe was) created. But clearly live on earth started small and similar and developed (or evolved, if you will) over billions of years to the current state of abundant diverse life.

Young earth creation is incompatible with evolution, that’s different (and not science based)

[Creationist]

It depends upon the one who is evaluating me.

I do not believe in evolution in any form.

I do not believe in Global warming as per that man is causing it or could change it.
I we are going to reduce green house gases we are going to have to remove all the trees that drop leaves as decomposing leaves create gas, we will have to dry up the oceans as they are one of the big producers of these gases.
Though it is written that in the last days the sun would scorch man.

[Manic_Episode]

A million years my hairy(_|_)

[gondramB]

>>
And Coyotemans Radiometric dating is a science of unprovable tests. Where is a test specimen that one can calibrate these test by.<<

Actually I’ve done radiometric dating - there is an error band around estimates but since no natural process can speed up or slow down decay its pretty darn accurate - and checkable with recent samples. Its also repeatable and can be checked by various teams.

[Creationist]

Young earth creation is very science backed.

Every creature and plant produces after its own kind as stated in Genesis.

There is not one intermediate fossil any where in the world.

Evolution does not fit with the Genesis account at all and calls God a liar. Evolution requires death for the next species to come about. And the Bible clearly states that through the sin of Adam death came about.

Also billion of years is not biblical.
Evolution has land animals before birds, Creation has birds before land animals. Evolution has plants before fish, creation has fish before plants.

So it is not a case by your belief of evolution or creation but what form of origins are you comfortable with, as your logical mind will not allow a big bang of nothing creating everything.

[Coyoteman]

Young earth creation is very science backed.

False. Young earth creationism is a denial of science.

Every creature and plant produces after its own kind as stated in Genesis.

False. "Baraminology" is a religious-based attempt to make "kinds" seem scientific. It is a failure as science because, as its proponents admit, scripture claims have priority over all other considerations.

There is not one intermediate fossil any where in the world.

False. This is an intermediate fossil. Note its position in the chart which follows (hint--in the right center):

---

Fossil: KNM-ER 3733

Site: Koobi Fora (Upper KBS tuff, area 104), Lake Turkana, Kenya (4, 1)

Discovered By: B. Ngeneo, 1975 (1)

Estimated Age of Fossil: 1.75 mya * determined by Stratigraphic, faunal, paleomagnetic & radiometric data (1, 4)

Species Name: Homo ergaster (1, 7, 8), Homo erectus (3, 4, 7), Homo erectus ergaster (25)

Gender: Female (species presumed to be sexually dimorphic) (1, 8)

Cranial Capacity: 850 cc (1, 3, 4)

Information: Tools found in same layer (8, 9). Found with KNM-ER 406 A. boisei (effectively eliminating single species hypothesis) (1)

Interpretation: Adult (based on cranial sutures, molar eruption and dental wear) (1)

See original source for notes:
Source: http://www.mos.org/evolution/fossils/fossilview.php?fid=33

Source

[gondramB]

>>Evolution does not fit with the Genesis account at all and calls God a liar. <<

When someone claims to know God absolutely and equate disagreeing with them to doing wrong to God there is almost always some negative motive. At the very least their vision of God is too small and their view of them self is too large.

>>There is not one intermediate fossil any where in the world.<<

That is such a blatantly false statement there is not much point in us talking further. I wish you well but there’s no point in talking to you if you can start with basic honesty.

[Creationist]

Sorry but you have a presupposition of a science that is very young compared to the half life's of the particles you test.

You have an assumption that the way it is now is the way it has always been.

We understand less than .000001% of radioactive decay based upon the amount of time of study. Magnetic decay of the earths field has been studied and measured for over 150 years with a half life of 1400 years, that gives us about a 10% understanding of the field.

Once the parameters of decay rate have been set there has been very little expense spent to determine if any events today can speed up or slow down decay rates.
There have been some that have shown magnetics can change decay rates.

I am also sure that any tests you have done in this field has always has a target date you or others expect, and any subject that did not fit was considered to have been contaminated.

[Creationist]

I do not view my self as large, and God small.

God is all powerful able to create the Universe as stated within the pages of the Bible, 6 days of work one day of rest the work week. Also he put into place the law of conservation when he finished no matter created or destroyed.

There is not one intermediate fossil, only dead bones, your interpretation of the dead bones allows you to believe in intermediates, but it is just dead bones.

You can not with all your might prove that a certain bone when alive gave birth to a different kind of creature other than itself, or if it even had any offspring of any kind. You must assume and speculate an outcome.
The history you adhere to is faith based and unrepeatable, unprovable. This is why you must quit as you have not an evolutionary leg to stand upon.

[Creationist]

I do not view my self as large, and God small.

God is all powerful able to create the Universe as stated within the pages of the Bible, 6 days of work one day of rest the work week. Also he put into place the law of conservation when he finished no matter created or destroyed.

There is not one intermediate fossil, only dead bones, your interpretation of the dead bones allows you to believe in intermediates, but it is just dead bones.

You can not with all your might prove that a certain bone when alive gave birth to a different kind of creature other than itself, or if it even had any offspring of any kind. You must assume and speculate an outcome.
The history you adhere to is faith based and unrepeatable, unprovable. This is why you must quit as you have not an evolutionary leg to stand upon.

[Maelstorm]

Hahaha ahhh Helen Thomas. If only her questions were scary. lol

[GladesGuru]

Prepare for another boring evos v crevos flame war.

I am going to put on the popcorn and another cup of coffee.

[sodpoodle]

“””””I believe the Bible to be the word of God given to man to write down for us to read over and over...””””

Is it possible that some things that were written down by mortal man/men have been misinterpreted or lost in translation....??? i.e. forms of measurement - time and distance.

The hand is only used to measure horses.

The fathom is only used to measure the depth of water.

A speed of 1 nautical mile per hour is 1 knot. The nautical mile is important internationally, due to air and sea transport. 6080 feet equals 1853.18 metres, but the new International nautical mile is defined now as 1852 metres.

It is obvious from the definition above that the rod is a strange unit - it is only of use in describing areas, as below. The rod is also known as the pole, the perch, and the lugg.

Prior to the 14th century, the league was normally taken as a 1½ statute miles, or (better) as 12 furlongs. After the 14th century, a length of 3 miles became the norm - a league at sea would be 3 nautical miles, and on land 3 statute miles.

Some people say that the plural of ‘foot’ should be ‘feet’ - use what sounds best to you.

I am humble enough to consider it.

[Creationist]

It is actually Faith based origins by nothing exploding then evolving vs Faith based origins of God created it all in six days approximately 6000 years ago.

The scientific evidence fits creation much better and science does not have to keep self correcting every time a new discovery is made.