“So, what’s in a name? The classification debate is not just a debate for the purist; it cuts to the core of our understanding of humanity’s place in nature and our evolutionary relationships with our closest living relatives. All hominins are hominids, but not all hominids are hominins.”
What is a Hominin? What is a Hominid?
Are they the same thing? In this week’s episode, we will be discussing just what these two taxonomical terms are, why they are essential, and why they get mixed up.
Hopefully, by the end of this video, you will have a better understanding of the two terms and why they may not be interchangeable.
I will admit I did have a little trouble with this video, so if it’s not the most informative, let me know, and I will remake it!
Welcome to this episode of #PaleoFridays! Sorry for the late episode, but accidents do happen!
Immobilized and feeling much better right now, thank you all for the concern and well wishes, next time I wont trip and fall!
On this week’s episode we will be discussing the oldest known stone tool complex thus far known. For decades many believed that the Oldowan Tool Complex was the first lithics to be made, and while they are quite old, and prolific, they may not be the first.
In 2011, a team led by Sonia Harmand and Jason Lewis from Stony Brook University, discovered what seems to be like stones altered by humanoid hands, dating back to an amazing date, far older than the Oldowan tools.
But what could they be, and who made them?
Learn all about the oldest stone tools on this episode of Paleofridays!
I was contacted the other day by Boneville publishing, home of artist Jeff Smith, because he had recently come out with the second novel in a new graphic series, dubbed “Tuki: Fight for Fire” (the first one), and the second one being “Tuki: Fight for Family”.
Now you might be asking what I have to do with reviewing graphic novels, and i was asking myself the same thing as I read the email, but then I soon found out that the theme, and topic of these graphic novels, is the lives of a few hominins walking the Earth about 2 mya, and their interactions with each other.
Book 1
I do not like reviews, or other talks that make you wait until the very end to hear the good stuff, you’re already here, I figure you want the best bits up front, and if you want to read on, I will leave that up to you.
Ill be honest, these are the first graphic novels I have ever read, and I was actually a little surprised to see how much I enjoyed them. I do not know if it is the subject matter, as I love all things paleoanthropology, but the fun of the entire experience was just great! As I am sure with most comics, the art is simple easy on the eyes, and a breeze to follow (once you figure out which way the storyboard goes, but for those more experienced graphic novel readers, I know this will not be a problem!)
The story, which I will not talk about much as I do want you to grab some copies (go ahead and click on the image to be taken the publishers website where you can purchase copies) but the important thing to know is, the story is fun. I think that is the best way to put it. You do not need to know anything about science or anthropology to enjoy it, but for those of us who are from the field, it is lovely to see the little tidbits, accurate tidbits mind you, that are put into the story.
I particularly enjoyed all the facts at the end of the book, as a science communicator, it was a great way to help explain some of the what seem to be simple topics, on a more complex level, and expose more people to the field. It was very enjoyable to read both of these books!
Basically, if you are a fan of comics, this is a great, and fun series that will keep you on your toes, and keep you guessing at what is coming next, and even for us science nerds who know a little bit more of what we are talking about when it comes to Paleoanthropology, this is a fun read.
I highly recommend for so many reasons, but above all, it exposed me to a whole new world of content consumption, and in a way that showed me it was not only just to enjoy, but can be educational too!
Hello fans of WOPA, and to those who have been following my work for the last few years, I have a very exciting announcement to make.
I have been invited by the president of the Biological Anthropology Society of the University of Cambridge, to be their Science Communications Officer.
They are very impressed with the work that I have done with WOPA, and my passion for Paleoanthropology.
I could not be happier!
We share many of the same goals, mainly our combined goal will be bringing researchers around the world together with students and host lecture series, events, and other activities. Providing opportunities for people to gather and learn. And it will be made as accessible as possible to all, as that is the goal!
Science for all!
This is a remote, volunteer position, and I gladly accepted!
I am not 100% sure on all of the details yet (I will find out within the week) but be prepared for some awesome things to be happening! Guaranteed! So stay tuned!
Thank you all for the support over the years, I would not be where I am today without you all!
For decades now, there has been a tenacious argument on who the first bipedal hominid was. There are a few contenders, dating to around 6.5-7 mya, While there has been a great deal of controversy, new analysis may shed light on who the first biped in our family stream was.
Sahelanthropus tchadensis by Seth Chagi
In 2001, a very interesting near complete, but very distorted cranium was found in the the Djurab Desert in norther Chad by a Franco-Chadian team, a year later, a team led by Michel Brunet described the skull, claiming that by the placement of the foramen magnum (the opening in the skull where the spinal spine passes through) proved that Toumaï, as the fossil would soon be known, was bipedal.
However, many anthropologists did not see this as clearly as Brunet thought they would. Many argued that the foramen magnum was pushed too far posteriorly, or towards the back of the skull, and that it would not have supported a bipedal gate. But many agreed that it would. A major problem with this, is that with the massive age of the skull, (7 mya) it had been crushed and distorted by geologic forces, and could only be reconstructed using computer programs to place the features back into their proper place, or at least what we believe is proper.
While the skull does support that this possible hominin was bipedal, there are associated post cranial remains that some researchers have determined show that sahelanthropus was indeed not a biped, that the possible associated femur that was found, would not support a upright walking pattern. So where does Toumaï stand? No pun intended! Was this species bipedal or not? While we may never know, a new paper published in Nature today, gives a great deal of more information.
“A research team, involving researchers from the CNRS, the University of Poitiers1 and their Chadian partners, examined three limb bones from the oldest human representative currently identified, Sahelanthropus tchadensis. Published in Nature on August 24, 2022, this study* reinforces the idea of bipedalism being acquired very early in our history, at a time still associated with the ability to move on four limbs in trees.
At 7 million years old, Sahelanthropus tchadensis is considered the oldest representative species of humanity. Its description dates back to 2001 when the Franco-Chadian Paleoanthropological Mission (MPFT) discovered the remains of several individuals at Toros-Menalla in the Djurab Desert (Chad), including a very well-preserved cranium. This cranium, and in particular the orientation and anterior position of the occipital foramen where the vertebral column is inserted, indicates a mode of locomotion on two legs, suggesting that it was capable of bipedalism 2.” (1)
Along with the skull of Toumaï, there were other post cranial remains that were found, and while there is no way to be sure that they were associated with the skull, the researchers are almost positive that they belong to the same species, as no other large ape has been found in the area dating to that time. “The femur and ulnae were subjected to a battery of measurements and analyses, concerning both their external morphology, and their internal structures using microtomography imaging: biometric measurements, geometric morphometrics, biomechanical indicators, etc. These data were compared to those of a relatively large sample of extant and fossil apes: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, Miocene apes, and members of the human group (Orrorin, Ardipithecus, australopithecines, ancient Homo, Homo sapiens).” (1)
According to more than twenty comparisons of habitual bipedalism, based on observation and comparison of characteristics, the researchers from CNRS, University of Poitiers have concluded based on their findings that sahelanthropus was not only capable of walking upright terrestrially, or on the ground, but arboreally, or in the trees as well. It seems that the possible first hominin was capable as well as very adept at locomotion through the canopies as well as the floors of ground.
Of course, we will never know for sure who the first obliged biped was, but the research continues to point in the same direction. That Sahelanthropus tchadensis was the first bipedal hominin. Will this result stand the test of time? Only more research and fossil discoveries will tell, but for now I think it is safe to say Toumaï was the first obligate bipedal hominin.
As for me? Well, I have always been on the side of Toumaï being the first biped, having a 3D print of his skull, and seeing the features myself, it is clear to me at least where the spine would enter the skull, and to me, it is in a more upright position and not posteriorly, enough at least, to support quadrupedal locomotion. I think it would be too stressful on the skeleton to do that, bipedal locomotion seems to be the best way for that skeleton to move around. Of course, I am open to changing my mind, Ororin tugenensis is also a good client for the first biped, dating to around 6.5 million years ago, but I just think that Toumaï takes the cake. We will have to see, but for now, I think we have our answer.
In this episode of “The Story of Us” we featured famed geneticist and anthropologist, Dr. Todd Disotell.
Hailing from NYU, this long-time researcher and professor have made long strides in the world of paleo genetics and phylogeny during his tenure.
Moving to the University of Massachusetts to take a slight career change, Dr. Disotell has a lot of advice to pass on to future geneticists, anthropologists, and researchers in general.
Join us in this episode to learn about the split between humans and apes, as well as what it means for science to evolve as a field.
Be entertained as we discuss some funny incidents in Todd’s past, and learn what it takes to make it in academia.
Join us!
If you like this episode please be sure to subscribe for more, and turn on that notification button to always know when I have a new episode out!
A new dating technology developed by Purdue researcher Darryl Granger is being used to re-date breccia blocks containing many of the world’s most famous South African hominin fossils.
Four different Australopithecus crania that were found in the Sterkfontein caves, South Africa. The Sterkfontein cave fill containing this and other Australopithecus fossils was dated to 3.4 to 3.6 million years ago, far older than previously thought. The new date overturns the long-held concept that South African Australopithecus is a younger offshoot of East African Australopithecus afarensis. Credit: Jason Heaton and Ronald Clarke, in cooperation with the Ditsong Museum of Natural History.
Using this new technique, (which measures the Cosmogenic Nuclides in the rock), at the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sterkfontein Caves have been famously known for the number of hominin fossils found within the caves.
It is by far one of the richest Australopith sites in South Africa and has…
What I do, is not the most common thing. To many people, it is not even a worthy pursuit. Some say educating is for the classroom, and for teachers only with credentials in certain fields. And of course, they have their very important place. But due to a severe lack of direction and communication within the school systems as to what should be taught when it comes to science (we can blame politics and religion for this), it is harder for many people to access certain information.
Science Communication is about teaching, or rather communicating a complex, and hard-to-understand topic that many people struggle with, and making it easy to understand. To a point that the person who did not understand before, can explain it to others.
While to some, this may not seem important. Why do we need to know all these specific details about the world around us? Is what we learn in school, not enough?
In many cases, no, it is not. Depending on where you come from, your understanding of science, no field, in particular, is going to vary drastically from someone from somewhere else. Although true science should, and needs to be universal. But without the understanding that all humans are entitled to proper education, it is key to forming an educated society, which can progress and grow in healthy ways.
Hopefully, at this point, we, together as a group are starting to understand the place of scientific communication. While it of course does not replace traditional forms of education, it can and should serve as an important supplement.
Giving people the extra chance to really go hands-on with certain subjects, to see the science at work, to have it explained step by step, this is what SciComm or Science Communication is and why it can be so crucial to building a well-educated society.
Some of the best-known science communicators in our modern world, are Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and many others. There are many more amateurs such as myself as well that are attempting to do the same thing but for more specific purposes and sciences, such as myself with Paleoanthropology.
What science communication can do, is enlighten, and excite people of all variations and ages. It brings people together, it helps them understand. People who understand something are more likely to be encouraged to learn more about it, and other subjects.
Once the spark is lit, there is little that will put it out, and that is the goal of SciComm. To light the flame, to spark the inspiration. It is what I hope I do everyday, even if it just a single person that I reach.
There are so many difficult things to understand in this world, and some of us are just more inclined, and or raised in a way that they had more access to certain information and training in their lives that others did not. When they share this knowledge that they were keen enough to run into, it is when we see the true light of humanity, the passing off of knowledge.
When we have a well educated population, we have well educated leaders, and we can make proper decisions not only for ourselves, but for the planet as well. If we want to change this world, we need to give the growing generations what they need to succeed, not just in the business world, or the dating world, but in the intellectual world as well, for a world full of intellectuals rather than worries, will be a much kinder place.
There is always more to learn, and if you enjoyed this article, and want to see more of what I am talking about, then I implore you to check out my Youtube Channel right here, so you can start your science communication journey about Human Origins today!
Modern humans take great care of our dead, we revere them in many cultures, and in almost every culture we take care of our dead in one way or another.
It seems like it is something that is uniquely human, and while there is indeed a question of “What is Human?”. For now, we will leave that for another episode. For now, we will be focusing on the idea that non human hominins could have also disposed of their dead in a direct way, and even possibly, in a ritualistic way.
Of course, with out some sort of window into the past, we cannot know for sure what the Neanderthals did, how they lived, and as importantly, how they died and what happened to them afterwards.
Dr. Pomeroy is currently working on Shandihar Cave in Iraq, a very important location for Neanderthal studies, a cave where up to ten or more Neanderthal bodies have been found.
Some of these individuals have very interesting features that could really change the way that people view Neanderthals, and their complexity.
Tune in to find out all about this cave, Neanderthals, and a great amount of info surrounding their deaths!
World of Paleoanthropology 