3.8 million year old skull yields new clues on evolution

A fascinating discovery!

The 3.8 million-year-old skull, discovered in Ethiopia, has provided new insights into human evolution. The fossil, named "Ardi" (Ardipithecus ramidus), is considered one of the most significant human ancestor discoveries in decades.

Here are some of the key findings:

  1. Bipedalism: The skull suggests that Ardipithecus was a bipedal species, meaning it walked on two legs. This is a crucial characteristic that distinguishes humans from other primates.
  2. Brain size: The skull has a brain size of around 350 cubic centimeters, which is smaller than that of modern humans (average brain size is around 1,300 cubic centimeters). However, it's larger than that of earlier human ancestors, such as Australopithecus afarensis (e.g., Lucy).
  3. Facial structure: The skull has a more human-like facial structure than earlier human ancestors, with a smaller jaw and a more pronounced forehead.
  4. Dental structure: The teeth are more primitive than those of modern humans, with a more primitive dental structure.
  5. Postcranial skeleton: The discovery of the postcranial skeleton (bones below the skull) has provided insights into Ardipithecus's locomotion and body shape. The skeleton suggests that Ardipithecus was a robust and powerful species, with a strong upper body and a more primitive pelvis.

These findings have significant implications for our understanding of human evolution. They suggest that the transition from quadrupedalism (walking on all fours) to bipedalism occurred earlier than previously thought, and that the human lineage may have evolved more gradually than previously believed.

The discovery of Ardipithecus has also shed light on the evolution of the human brain. The brain size of Ardipithecus is smaller than that of modern humans, but it's larger than that of earlier human ancestors. This suggests that brain size may have increased gradually over time, rather than suddenly.

Overall, the discovery of Ardipithecus has provided a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of the human species, and has opened up new avenues for research into the origins of humanity.