Why We Study Human Origins
by Randall Susman
Calliope: Exploring World History
Have you ever wondered where we come from? Who were our first ancestors? When was the first fossil discovered? So many questions are being asked about our history, but unfortunately we can't answer all. With the first fossils found, our idea of life and past has changed. Evidence from the past is hard to find, it can be faded away, or it can be hidden in the most extreme places. What makes us different from all other early humans and apes? Why did some of us survive, and others not? The study of fossils help us understand changes and different life stages, not only this, they also tell us about physical features and behaviors. In the past, when no fossils existed or were not yet found, people relied on religious teachings and myths to explain the beginning of humanity until it sounded to extreme to be true.
Charles Darwin (scientist 1800's) developed the theory of evolution by observing plants and animals. According to the definition from the online dictionary, "evolution is the process of formation or growth, in other words a change."
Tomas Henry Huxley (scientist) first man who proposed that apes and humans are anatomically more similar than apes and monkeys. According to the online dictionary, " Anatomy is the science dealing with the structure of plants and animals." This theory, talks about how our structure had probably developed from apes because of the skeleton and parts of the body.
During the time of Darwin and Huxley no fossils were yet found so no evidence was provided, in 1925 the first hominid fossil was found by Raymond Dart in South Africa. In the surrounding of the fossil stones and tools were found providing some new theories.
As it says in the article: "The evidence has led some of believe that early humans were hunting, predatory ape-men and women. Others have suggested that our earliest ancestors were tree-dwelling apes or four-legged knuckle-walkers or even bipeds that lived in water."
After all, scientists state that fossils are the "only scientific way to test various unproved theories." Continuing with the studies, we all hope to figure out more about our early ancestors and mostly, about ourselves.
In my opinion, I think it is pretty amazing how we evolved and are continuing to evolve. All the theories people come up with are amazing and all have some evidence behind them, but hopefully once, we will discover the real truth, or be one step closer to doing this. I enjoyed reading this article, and if you are up for some interesting reading about fossils and evolution, then this is the right article for you!
Susman, Randall. "Why We Study Human Origins." Calliope: Exploring World History Sept. 1999: 4-5. Print.
by Randall Susman
Calliope: Exploring World History
Have you ever wondered where we come from? Who were our first ancestors? When was the first fossil discovered? So many questions are being asked about our history, but unfortunately we can't answer all. With the first fossils found, our idea of life and past has changed. Evidence from the past is hard to find, it can be faded away, or it can be hidden in the most extreme places. What makes us different from all other early humans and apes? Why did some of us survive, and others not? The study of fossils help us understand changes and different life stages, not only this, they also tell us about physical features and behaviors. In the past, when no fossils existed or were not yet found, people relied on religious teachings and myths to explain the beginning of humanity until it sounded to extreme to be true.
Charles Darwin (scientist 1800's) developed the theory of evolution by observing plants and animals. According to the definition from the online dictionary, "evolution is the process of formation or growth, in other words a change."
Tomas Henry Huxley (scientist) first man who proposed that apes and humans are anatomically more similar than apes and monkeys. According to the online dictionary, " Anatomy is the science dealing with the structure of plants and animals." This theory, talks about how our structure had probably developed from apes because of the skeleton and parts of the body.
During the time of Darwin and Huxley no fossils were yet found so no evidence was provided, in 1925 the first hominid fossil was found by Raymond Dart in South Africa. In the surrounding of the fossil stones and tools were found providing some new theories.
As it says in the article: "The evidence has led some of believe that early humans were hunting, predatory ape-men and women. Others have suggested that our earliest ancestors were tree-dwelling apes or four-legged knuckle-walkers or even bipeds that lived in water."
After all, scientists state that fossils are the "only scientific way to test various unproved theories." Continuing with the studies, we all hope to figure out more about our early ancestors and mostly, about ourselves.
In my opinion, I think it is pretty amazing how we evolved and are continuing to evolve. All the theories people come up with are amazing and all have some evidence behind them, but hopefully once, we will discover the real truth, or be one step closer to doing this. I enjoyed reading this article, and if you are up for some interesting reading about fossils and evolution, then this is the right article for you!
Susman, Randall. "Why We Study Human Origins." Calliope: Exploring World History Sept. 1999: 4-5. Print.
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