Re: [asa] AAAS Symposium on Human Origins

Dave,
 Darwin made a very bold prediction about human fossils. Only a Neanderthal fossil had been found by 1859 and when he published Descent of Man, no other hominid fossil had been found. Based on his theory, he predicted:
1. Fossils would be found that would have a mixture of human and ape characteristics
2. These fossils would be found predominantly in Africa.

Both of these predictions were unique to his theory and would not have been derived, given what was known at the time, from any alternative theory of human origins. Both predictions have been abundantly borne out.

Darwin didn't get everything right, however. He also predicted that the key characteristics of bipedalism, tool-making, and enhanced cranial capacity all evolved together with significant synergies of those traits. The data indicate the bipedalism evolved first, then tool-making, then enlarged cranium.

As for things getting curioser, my next note will summarize a fascinating talk by Tim White with a different perspective from what we heard yesterday.

Randy
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: dopderbeck@gmail.com
  To: Randy Isaac
  Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:10 AM
  Subject: Re: [asa] AAAS Symposium on Human Origins

  Thanks for the interesting report! So -- how is this confirming darwins outline? Seems like things are getting curiouser.

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Received on Sat Feb 14 23:54:32 2009