fuckyeahdarkextropian: “Human facial structure evolved to tolerate punches to the head, according to new research that suggests our ancestors spent a lot of time fighting. Such ancestors likely included the australopiths, which lived 4 to 2 million years ago in Africa. “The australopiths were characterized by a suite of traits that may have improved fighting […]
Read moreRead moreMounting evidence from genome analysis of archaic populations has indicated that the various hominin species mated with each other.
When Neanderthal and modern human populations crossed paths, they interbred too. The Neanderthal genome data confirms that there was “leakage of DNA” from these extinct hominins into modern humans.
“Neanderthals live on a little bit in people living outside Africa today,” Pääbo said, making up about two percent of the genome of all humans that don’t originate from Africa.
Collating the genetic material of two related hominin species — the Neanderthals and Denisovans — and comparing it with sequence data of 25 humans, the researchers have triangulated in on a section of the hominin genome that is unique to our species.
“It’s a definitive recipe if you like for making a modern human,” Pääbo said. “We can now start doing experiments to ask what is it that makes modern humans special.”
“There is also an interesting question of what, if anything, Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA may be doing in the people that have it today, and whether it has been of benefit or detriment to our species,” Chris Stringer, a paleoanthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London, who was unconnected with the work, wrote in a comment sent to press.
Further research into what those areas coded for may reveal why we, homo sapiens, lived on while Denisovans, Neanderthals, and scores of our hominin relatives vanished.
The hyoid bone is crucial for speaking as it supports the root of the tongue. In non-human primates, it is not placed in the right position to vocalise like humans.
An international team of researchers analysed a fossil Neanderthal throat bone using 3D x-ray imaging and mechanical modelling.
This model allowed the group to see how the hyoid behaved in relation to the other surrounding bones.
Stephen Wroe, from the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia, said: “We would argue that this is a very significant step forward. It shows that the Kebara 2 hyoid doesn’t just look like those of modern humans – it was used in a very similar way.”
Neanderthals could speak like modern humans, study suggests
Read more "Neanderthals could speak like modern humans, study suggests "Read moreStone tools discovered in this site confirm the continuity of human settlement in Europe, the researchers said.
The finding contradicts the theory of some researchers who believe Europe was populated in small waves without continuity by groups doomed to extinction because of their inability to adapt to new surroundings, they said in their statement.
“Even though they are very archaic tools, they reflect complex activities such as recovering animals that fell into the caves,” which functioned as traps, the statement said.
Researchers have also found the remains of a large bear which is an ancestor to the brown bear that exists today.
Various remains of this species were found at the site, as well as those of other animals such as rhinos, giant deer, bison and wild donkeys.
First episode of an amazing archeological program on first Australians.
Read more
The Committee to Nuke Elysium 