You probably missed it, but on April 8th, 2010 a news conference was held in South Africa. At that time, fossilized humanoid remains were discovered almost by accident when a nine year old boy walking with his dog accidentally kicked over a "rock" while walking near a pit famous for early human-like fossils.
Analysis on two skeletons, a female and a juvenile boy, now has concluded that the two represent very early humanoid species.The two are different from the famous "Lucy," which has been dated to 3 million years old, and which was an ape-like being. They are different as well from a humanoid dated to about 1.5 million to 2 million years old, one that was found to be using primitive tools. The new finds were dated to about 2 million years ago, and are distinctive in that their hands had grasping capabilities that were more advanced than those of "Lucy," and had feet suitable for climbing as well. The conclusion is that these creatures were able to climb, but also were moving toward locomotion on their feet on the ground as well, and are another link toward the 1.5 million year-old being that was using tools.
The site of these discoveries is the Malapa site, a collapsed cave only 24 miles from Johannesburg, which has protected valuable fossils. Over the last nine years, researchers have established that the discoveries of 2010 are indeed related to the Homo genus, and represent a bridging species between the other two. So our early human ancestors were swinging from trees two million years ago, but evolution was taking place, and within "only" a half-million to a million years, they were using simple tools on the ground. And on we go!
Enjoy life, it's the only one we will get.
Jim George
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* Please check out my books and blogs on my author website
and recommend them to your friends. Also, recall that I’ll travel to any book club (or radio club) within two hours of Austin to discuss either of the books and answer any questions. Any and all comments are welcome either by email to my return address, n3bb@mindspring.com, or to the website in the comments section after any blog.
* Reunion is available in stock at Tamarack on the West Virginia Turnpike as well as at amazon.com and other Internet locations. It’s under consideration for a movie.
*Contact Sport is in stock in hardcover print form at any of the thirteen HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) stores nationwide as well as at DX-Engineering and the American Radio Relay League. In addition, many Barnes and Noble stores nationwide carry it in stock, and they as well as Book People in Austin or any independent bookstore can order it. You can buy direct at my website’s link for a personalized copy. In addition, Contact Sport is available in either eBook or/and audible book formats.
