As you can imagine the debate is getting heated. After Attenborough did his programme on humans evolving from marine apes the conservative human evolution establishment is up in arms. They do not like their current theory being challenged.
Human beings evolved from apes in the Rift Valley area of Africa about two million years ago. Not many, apart from the flat-eithers and creationists, are disputing that. We have the fossil evidence.
It is widely believed that we became bipedal on the African savannah in order to hunt and hold tools. The development of intelligence, along with binocular sight and the opposable thumb, necessary for tool manipulation, is well documented.
What David suggested was that we did not become biped on the savannah for hunting but developed this from wading in water to live off molluscs.
So what is the evidence for our aquatic past?
a. Evidence that primitive man ate a lot of bivalves
b. We have blubber (a thick layer of fat under the skin)
c. Babies are born with an immersion syndrome. They naturally hold their breath and can swim under water.
d. We have a physiological change when immersed. Our peripheral blood system shuts down and there are changes in metabolism and brain activity.
e. The hair deposition is of an aquatic animal.
f. We have an affinity for water. We love it.
It is an interesting idea. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Nominated you for The Versitile Blog Award!
That’s very nice of you. I don’t really go in for these awards but it is great of you to recognise me that way. I’m honoured. What does it mean?
It gives your blog recognition for bein Versitile.
So what do I have to do?
No wonder I like swimming … I’m really a seal.
Yes I’m one too – but I leak.
Reminds me of that Spike Milligan joke – something like, they told me the captain had the sea in his blood and my goodness you could see where it got in!
I must go down to the sea again
To the lonely sea and the sky
I left my hat and coat there
I wonder if they’re dry.
There’s a lot of more recent research that seems to identify several hominid species that lived in Africa. Our Homo sapiens species is only the current
Yes. I think it is a great shame that we are the only species of hominids to survive. If there were others, including Neanderthals, I think it might well have had a different effect on our psyche. There is this glorified attitude that we are the only intelligent species and that we are not animals – somehow we are above that. I’m not sure what people think we are – some creature produced by a deity I suppose.
The chimps, gorillas, oragutans, whales, porpoises and many birds demonstrate intelligence but another group of ‘humans’ would have made all the difference to our perspective.
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
I thought this was a great idea. Not sure if it is true though.