Thursday 4 January 2018

Exploring the Prehistoric World of Human Being





Joseph Jackson and Isaac Stevenson study Anthropology at University of Washington. They have come across the recent discoveries of human evolution last year. Both of them are highly enthusiastic  about the recent updates of the evolution of human being. In the past time, they love to play chess and cricket. They have gone to Africa last year for studying the Olduvai Gorge where there are large collection of human fossils. Joseph asked, “Do you know the recent paleoanthropological findings of 2017?” Isaac replied, “Actually I was quite busy with the studies and did not know what is happening recently.  Tell me the recent updates. “ Joseph said with excitement, “ Have you heard of Homo naledi fossil? “ Isaac replied, “ A little bit! This fossil has been discovered in 2015 in South Africa. In University of Witwatersrand, a researcher named Dr. Lee Berger had discovered it and he was accompanied by a team. There was a huge assemblage. From the examination of fossil, we have found certain amazing facts! Want to know ?” Joseph replied, “ Yes! I am very much interested about human evolution facts and figures. Tell me please!” Isaac said, “ There is a mixture of physical characteristics in this fossilized specimen of mankind. The collarbone of this fossil specimen was similar to modern man. The team of Lee Berger found 15 people in the form of fossils in Dinaledi Chamber and it is a part of Rising Star Cave Art System.  Do you know that there was a second chamber?” Joseph replied, “ Yes, I heard a little bit. If you tell further, it will be helpful. “ Isaac said, “ A fossil has been named Neo and it is a Sesotho word meaning gift.  It is a fossil specimen of human being in the complete form.  There were different techniques of dating and a total of six techniques have been utilized for this paleoanthropological discovery. Do you know a dating method helps us to understand the exact date of the fossil?” Joseph said, “ Oh really! It is good to know that the science of paleoanthropology is moving fast! Tell me further.”  Isaac said, “ The cave had flowstones and they were dated by the researchers along with those teeth which have been discovered by the talented scientists. The dating reveals that this species had lived on earth from 236,000  to 335,000 years ago. Have you heard about Homo erectus?”  Joseph replied, “ Yes. I came to know that Homo heidelbergensis and Homo erectus are their contemporary human species.  It is quite interesting, isn’t it? Do you know that our modern man also lived during that time?” Isaac replied, “ Oh that’s great! Tell me more! Human evolution stories are highly interesting as they dispel all the doubts of human existence.  I heard that the researchers found 19 individuals. Is it true? “ Joseph replied, “ Yes! That’s true! In the cave, there was a bird of modern times along with the Homo naledi fossil remains.  It seems that human fossils found here are found systematically.  In most of the cases, we find the carnivores chewing the bones but here it is not so. Some form of natural calamity have compelled this human group to live in this cave. Isnt it interesting? “ Isaac replied, “It is definitely interesting my friend. Human evolutionary findings are really exciting.  Do you know that Berger took help of archeologists who have experience of caving?” Joseph replied, “ Yes it is true! Six women were chosen who were also known as Underground Astronauts.  They are truly brave as they overcome all the adversities in the cave to dig out the human fossil remains.”  Joseph added, “ I need to prepare for the upcoming examination in anthropology.  “ Isaac said, “ Okay.  See you soon!”
Isaac Stevenson and Joseph Jackson met once at the canteen of their University of Washington. They were talking about another interesting paleoanthropological finding. Isaac asked, “ Hey Joseph, do you know about the recent finding of Viviane Slon? “ Joseph replied with a smile, “ Yes! It is definitely interesting! This researcher from Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology had made an amazing discovery!  Do you know that discovery?” Isaac said, “ It has been published in May 12, 2017 in an issue of a popular journal named Science.  The evolutionary geneticist have found DNA samples of  the mammals. Do you know where they have found? “ Joseph replied, “ They had found them within the sediments in the caves of Asia and Europe.  There is an unusual aspect of this discovery as there was no artifacts or fossils. Human DNA was found!  It was found within the dirt! Can you believe it ? Sounds unbelievable! Isn’t it?  Those who discovered such things are known as paleo-geneticists.  They have worked with the archeologists  to excavate the caves.  Do you know where did they found?” Isaac replied, “No ! Please tell me! I am eager to know !” Joseph said, “ They have been found within the cave of Russia, France, Croatia and Belgium. They have been found in Spain also.  The ancient human beings have occupied those caves and the sediment samples of 85 places have been found. There are seven sites which have been studied thoroughly. From the archeological dating, it has been found that the specimen had been present on earth 14,000 to 550,000 years ago. Mitochondrial DNA fragments were found in the remains. Do you know how many families were found in those remains? “ Isaac replied, “ I heard that 12 families.” Joseph replied, “ Exactly! The most interesting fact is that there are sample of ancient DNA within 9 out of 85 samples in the four sites.  The DNA of Neanderthal man was found among 8 specimen.  Denjsovan DNA was found within one specimen.  They are not a single individual but a group of individuals. Do you know that this research finding can change the way we thought?” Isaac said, “Yes! You are absolutely right! The fossils were found in unusual places. Human beings have occupied the caves of Denisova in Siberia.  Do you know how old is it? “ Joseph said, “ It is 100,000 years approximately and DNA could be collected from those samples. “
Joseph Jackson and Isaac Stevenson was talking about the recent discovery at Morocco. They were talking in the break time of their classes. They are quite enthusiastic about the ancient human species. They read a lot of recent anthropology journals.  Joseph asked,” Have you heard about Morocco findings? “ Isaac replied, “ Yes! They belong to Homo sapiens and they date back 300,000 years! Do you know the date of discovery? “ Joseph replied, “ It was found in 1961. The human skull is complete and the discovery was made at Jebel Irhoud in Morocco.  Do you know  the team of researchers?” Isaac replied, “Yes! It was found by Jean-Jacques Hublin who is a paleoanthropologist. Do you know where he worked?” Joseph said, “ He worked at Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology. It is located in Leipzig, Germany.  New excavations were found in 2004. It revealed the sediment of the finding. The researchers of the team of Hublin had found an interesting finding. They have found in 2007 and their dating revealed 160,000 years.  The fossil remains revealed a mandible of a juvenile from  site named Jebel Irhoud 3. A radiometric dating was adopted and this technique is known as Uranium series /electron spin resonance. Do you know which specimen was dated?” Isaac said, “ It is the teeth. New fossils were found also from this archeological site, which included leg and arm bones, skulls partially, jaws and teeth.  Do you know how many individuals were found from this site?” Joseph replied, “ Five individuals were found from the site 22. A particular layer revealed those human remains and it is really great to hear such interesting news. The bones of butchered animal were found from this layer. The tools were made of flint stone and they were burned and made ready for use. It is interesting to see that this group of mankind could control fire! Do you know  the dating technique? “ Isaac asked, “Which one?”  Joseph informed, “ Thermoluminiscence dating was used.  A finding revealed on 8th June, 2017 tell us about the range of the species and they were found on the surface of the earth between 280,000 and 350,000 years ago!  There is a matching of the date with the mandible found in Jebel Irhoud 3.  The radiometric dating is quite advanced.  It tell us the human species survived between 254000 and 318,000 years ago and the calculation reveals that they were 50% older than Omo Kibish fossils found in Ethiopia.  The dating reveals that they were 195,000 years ago. Do you know the fossil had similarity with the Neanderthal man?” Isaac said, “ Yes ! The lower jaws, teeth, face had some similarity. But the brain case was found to be elongated.  As per the team’s discovery, the species were not ancestors of modern man but they belong to the population of Africa, which evolved into the present mankind. “


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