ipl-logo

Afarensis Research Paper

658 Words3 Pages

The findings that I will be discussing are that of A. Afarensis. The findings include a complete fossilized skull, pelvis and partial foot and shin. The original findings of A. Afarensis were consistent of a 40% complete skeleton given the name Lucy was found in Ethiopia in 1974 by Don Johnson of the institute of human origins . The fossil contained a small skull with a cranial capacity ranging from 425cm3 to 500cm3, various teeth, and other various fragments estimated around 3.7MYA. The individual was considered either a female by some or a small variant of A. Afarensis. With the newest find, it is concluded was that the new finds are indeed A. Afarensis but from a larger individual. Suggesting that A. Afarensis was sexually dimorphic or the original find was a young individual . The complete skull was found in Ethiopia near the same area as the first find in 1974. Around the site were many In the new find has reviled that the maxim cranial capacity is approximately 495cm3 to 550cm3, Still keeping it within the range of the Australopithecus genre. This skull has defined nuchal cresting and, with the new find, a more dish like face. Making it seem closer to that of the Paranthropus genera. The skull also gives us incite to how …show more content…

Afarensis and the later finds of the Australopithecus genera is a very controversial and fragile area. With limited knowledge and only partially complete fossils of individuals from over 4.2MYA, it is difficult to nail down how many species any genera had. Even now there are still fossils that lay dormant in the earth. It is up to the anthropologist to uncover the pieces of the past and put them together to determine our lineage from long ago. A. Afarensis has traits resembling both human and ape like traits only clouds the question more. As an anthropologist myself I hope that one day I will be able to make ground breaking discoveries and further find the dormant pieces lying in the earth to answer the questions of where we came

Show More
Related
637 Words | 3 Pages

The Dmanisi skull 4, also known as D3444 with its mandible D3900, is one of five Homo erectus skulls discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia. Described in a publication in October 2006, it is believed to be about 1.8 million years old. Dmanisi D3444/D3900 is believed to be a Homo erectus adult female with a marked edentulous (toothless) grin. The cranium (D3444) was found first in 2002 and the mandible (D3900) was found later in 2004, immediately adjacent to the spot the cranium was found. The brain has an endocranial capacity of 650 cm.

Read More
758 Words | 4 Pages

In the short introductory paragraph, Gibbons mentions Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old skeleton that proved that before our ancestors evolved big brains, they walked upright. Lucy tremendously paved the way for anthropology and it helped disclose a lot of information about human prehistory. Since Lucy's discovery, researchers

Read More
1260 Words | 6 Pages

This discovery proved that this fossil was the bipedal middle between an ape and human. Chapter 5– Questions 1-4 Roy was explorative, and passionate about nature at a young age. He loved to fish, hunt and camp, and had his heart set on being a naturalist and explorer. These characteristics made him perfectly capable to be a skilled explorer. Roy's exploration consisted of reconstructing the plateau of Central Asia (geology, vegetation, past climate, and fossils).

Read More
1147 Words | 5 Pages

When Dorsey testified that the bone fragments were from a female he had to be confident in his work. Even today, differentiating the sex of human remains is difficult. So the results from Dorsey are even more insufficient because this case took place within the late

Read More
727 Words | 3 Pages

It has been decades since paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson discovered the first fossilized bone of Australopithecus afarensis. Donald and his team had been surveying a remote area in Ethiopia when the discovery was made. Donald later unearthed vertebra, skull fragments, and a jaw bone further giving validity to a new hominid he would later name Lucy. It wouldn’t be for a few years, but the discovery would be labeled as the “missing link” between humans and a direct ancestor. The scientific community finally had a crucial puzzle piece to explain “how and why” in their evolutionary theory.

Read More
1720 Words | 7 Pages

Half of the skulls found had facial damage and most were on the left side which suggests that they received these injuries in

Read More
195 Words | 1 Pages

With research done to fossils and skeletons of possible primates from the past with comparison to primates of the present shows

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

This finding was further supported by the significant amount of spongy bone fragments that were found in both caves which indicated that bone marrow extraction had taken place. Furthermore, the findings from this study supported the researcher’s hypothesis that the Neanderthals struggled to intake more nutrients on a daily basis during the glacial periods since there was less prey in the environment which lead to their starvation and extinction. To further support this hypothesis, researchers suggested that other Neanderthal sites must be examined in order to determine whether nutrient extractions at those sites match the intensity of the nutrient extractions reported in this study. Overall, I found this article to be very interesting because of how the researchers were able to shed light on the mystery that surrounds the extinction of the Neanderthals by utilizing something simple as bone fragments. Lastly, I found this article to be fascinating because it led me to the ask the question of what will happen to human populations when the effects of climate change begin to devastate

Read More
1825 Words | 8 Pages

Application of these significant developments has created opportunities for the discovery of new sources and the revision of historical disputes. As noted by Dan Jones, a British historian, archaeologists are now ‘better equipped to study historical remains than ever before’. The general public’s interpretation of archaeology also recognise this importance, viewing it as having ‘foremost benefit and that we learn about the past in order to improve the future’ (Maria Ramos and David Duganne)

Read More
1429 Words | 6 Pages

The Existence of Sasquatch in North America Thousands of sightings spring up all across the world. These sighting bring descriptions of a large bipedal apelike creature. Standing over 7 feet tall, it walks heavily with notably broad shoulders and unusually long arms. The idea of Bigfoot is highly controversial, but a hard look at the facts will shine light upon its existence. This elusive creature has not only perplexed the ones who have seen it, but has baffled the science community as well.

Read More
1649 Words | 7 Pages

Modern humans have jaws that sit beneath the rest of our skull, and small noses. The cheekbones are angled, and have a distinctive hollow beneath the eye socket, called the canine fossa. In comparison, the Neanderthals had an entirely larger face, with an enormous flattened nose, and the skull curved outwards around the cheeks rather than being hollowed out. Neanderthals also had a flatter, much larger forehead than modern man, as well as a pronounced double arch brow ridge that hung over their face. In addition, they also had an occipital bun, which is a prominent bulge of the occipital bone at the back of the head.

Read More
470 Words | 2 Pages

Although this may be truth they both share an exhibition with the same evidence but in two different view about the topic which is “Lucy” one of the most complete skeletons to be prove of a missing link between apes and humans of course the creationist museum base their research on comparing Lucy as just another species of orangutan with stating that the position of the pelvis wouldn’t have permitted Lucy to walk like an human and deciding Lucy, stating that Lucy is just another ape and yet lacking in evidence. but the American national museum view again is different it is a prove that the early hominids flourished between 2 and 4 million years ago, discovered in 1974 Lucy’s body is 3.18 million of years old she is considered to be more human like than

Read More
1065 Words | 5 Pages

BIOLOGY RESEARCH ESSAY There is great speculation around evolution. As we are continually in the process of discovering the history of human beings, there are many questions surrounding this topic. One very interesting question is why ancient ancestors of homo-sapiens evolved to walk upright like we do today. An apes’ DNA is astonishingly similar to that of a humans, (97% the same) and yet, our bones’ shapes and structure are very different.

Read More
539 Words | 3 Pages

1. Describe the geology and plate movements that are taking place in Africa now. What super-continent did Africa form the center of in the past? What parts of Africa are now separate but once where linked? What cratons are located in Africa and what do they contain?

Read More
2536 Words | 11 Pages

These two descriptions in comparison show that the description awarded to Europeans carried positive connotations and gives off the idea that this was “the race to be”. The description attached to Africanus however can be deemed to carry negative connotations. Linnaeus did not however,

Read More

More about Afarensis Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document