Who's Who Among the Early Hominins?

Who's Who Among the Early Humans
By Randall Susman
Odyssey: Adventures in Science


We as humans, are considered to have many ancestors, all have something in common but are different. Early humans, in other words our ancestors, are often called "ape-men". Every body structure is different, but most of our ancestors looked alike to apes but walked on 2 legs like humans. The fossil record (where all the fossils are showed and can be compared throughout years) shows both "primitive (ape-like) and advanced (human-like) fossils". Some of the oldest known fossils include the Sahelanthropus, Orrorin and Ardipithecus.


Sahelanthropus was discovered in Chad,2001, its skull is more ape-like than human

Orrorin- found in Kenya and is believed to be the "oldest definitive hominin"- come from about 6.1-5.8 million years ago. Its limb bones show positional behavior: the article suggest this means "the posture and locomotion, the way animals stand and more".

Ardipithecus- from about 4.4million years ago, found in Ethiopia in 1994.
We call out first or earliest ancestors the "Early Homo". Most of the fossils from our early ancestors were discovered in East and South Africa which used to be the center of the Earth. The Homos came from about 2million years ago even though there is some evidence of them being older, it is no evidence that can be proofed. Early Homo are divided into 2 categories, the Homo Habilis and Homo Rudolfensis. Homo Habilis are best known from their fossil found in Tanzania, including a large brain and small, narrow teeth, they are described as more human-like. Their fossils have been found next to stone/working tools and dead animal bones suggesting they were either hunters or as a group went for searches for food. Homo Rudolfensis on the other hand, were found mostly in Northern Kenya having large brains and flat faces. While finding fossils archaeologist must think of 3 other points:

• "Epoch- a particular period in history, especially the ones considered noteworthy."-Definition from the article: Who's Who Among the Early Hominins?
• "Taxonomic- having to do with the science of classifying living things." Definition from the article: Who's Who Among the Early Hominins?

• "Sexual Dimorphism-Difference in size and shape between males and females."Definition from the article: Who's Who Among the Early Hominins?

After all, we have many early ancestors, all coming from a different period and surviving with different techniques. I found it pretty interesting reading about who came before us and differences between separations. The further into the past we go, the harder it is to gather information but every time we find a helpful fossil, we are one step closer to learning about the truth.

Susman, Randal. "'Who's Who Among the Early Hominis?" Odyssey: Adventures in Science Oct. 2009: 

22-25. Print. 

Why We Study Human Origins

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.

Stonehenge Mystery

                                   Why is the world the way it is? How where old monuments created? How did our ancestor manage to create anything in ancient times? All these questions unanswered fully but every question has an answer hidden. Stonehenge is a monument not yet known for which purpose it served but many theories guide it through our world. Many believed it to be younger than the Pyramids in Egypt, those were proved wrong by scientific/cultural dating. Stonehenge is composed of sarsen stones  which are big stones with a height of 20feet and weight up to 45 tons. The smaller stones being surrounded by the sarsen stones are called the blue stones, the shape these stones create might lead our theories to an answer. Stonehenge might be connected to other monuments such as Durrington Walls, rivers near by, and Stonehenge is located in Southern England. Bodies found surrounding Stonehenge have their own theory, but which ever theory you believe, it might or may not have evidence, but it will never fit together with the others.

The Theory of Aliens
It is hard to believe that stones of about 45 tons have been carried by humans for more than 137miles to a specific spot. Visitors or citizens living near by have claimed seeing UFO'S, this might just be imagination but at least some evidence. The Aliens are though of as enemies but creating a monument on our land might be a smart idea. Any how, people who don't believe in aliens have different theories.

Theory of Merlin

All these stories of people meeting Merlin the big magician helping them in life, why not pretend that Merlin could have done all the work for us? This theory is pretty similar to the alien one, Merlin with all his forces would be able to transport huge stones from any place in the world and create a monument for people to use. No matter how much more reliable this theory might seem, there isn't a lot of evidence to go with this topic.
  
The Theory of the Death
While excavations all around Stonehenge, skeletons have been discovered. Could it be a burial for ancient people? Most of the bones discovered belong to man around the age of 25-40. When royal people died they would get burned instead of buried because of beliefs. About 60 people were found dead which provides evidence of the theory, and an other 200 are believed to still be uncovered. This theory has the most solid evidence along with the astronomical theory. This theory corresponds to the evidence since Durrington Walls, a second monument, was found alined with Stonehenge and that one is believed to serve for the alive.


The Theory of the Living
 One of the Theories is the total opposite of the others. Some people believe the monument to have all the skeletons because they were killed others believe the skeletons be there for healing. Since most skeletons had an injury, we believe that they came to Stonehenge to get healed, one of the evidences why people believe this theory is because most skeletons found come from far places such as Ireland and Wales.

Astronomical Alignment
 This is probably the most complicated theory of all but comes to a conclusion that makes sense.The way all the stones fit together, there is a path going from one end to the other marking the sun set, not only this but two of the stone paths link the summer and winter saulstes. The whole point of building the Stonehenge was for it to serve as a calendar, this might be hard for some of us to believe that our ancestors were this smart but some very persuasive evidence was found.

   There are many more theories of course but these are the main ones and if you ever tend to ask someone about Stonehenge they will tell you one of the above. Who build it is a whole different story. The fact we are sure of is that Stonehenge was built in stages, who built is a whole different mystery. If you believe in the aliens theory than the aliens must have built it, but scientifically and logically we believe royal people must have built it because of their wealthiness. It might have been build by 1000 people pulling and pushing the huge stones to their place which is hardly believable but could be true, but not only that, rolling stones on wood could have also been an educated process to go through. The River Avon and Durington Walls, both connected to Steonehenge, might have something to do with theories. After all, many scientists and archaeologist have taken action on finding out more of the mystery, the whole mystery might never be discovered, but that is the fun behind it!

  In my opinion, I have never been interested in monuments and old historical events, but learning about Stonehenge has been very interesting. Because in class we have watched movies, read articles and shared everything we gathered, it was easier to understand why how and what the purpose of Stonehenge is. I think it is pretty amazing that people from the past had the knowledge to create a calendar of astronomy/place for dead/living or any other purpose it served as. And maybe soon enough, we will discover even more, we don't know how deep the deepest ocean is, we don't know why we are how we are, we don't know what came first, water or the moon, but one thing we do know, if we knew everything,there would be nothing left to discover.

Resources:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1886661,00.html
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/stonehenge/
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14011-five-theories-about-stonehenge.html