Oldest "Human" Skeleton Found --Disproves "Missing Link

BarTopDancer · 10-01-2009, 04:31 PM

Story here.

Quote:

Scientists today announced the discovery of the oldest fossil skeleton of a human ancestor. The find reveals that our forebears underwent a previously unknown stage of evolution more than a million years before Lucy, the iconic early human ancestor specimen that walked the Earth 3.2 million years ago.

Alex · 10-01-2009, 05:33 PM

Just for clarification, it doesn't disprove the "missing link." Disproving the missing link idea in general would be disproving that human and other apes share a common ancestor. It disproves a theory that the last common ancestor between human and other apes would be chimpanzee-like.

And that's if this group's interpretation of the skeleton is correct (and this skeleton is even in our evolutionary path).

But no matter what it is an amazingly cool find.

BarTopDancer · 10-01-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Just for clarification, it doesn't disprove the "missing link." Disproving the missing link idea in general would be disproving that human and other apes share a common ancestor. It disproves a theory that the last common ancestor between human and other apes would be chimpanzee-like.

And that's if this group's interpretation of the skeleton is correct (and this skeleton is even in our evolutionary path).

But no matter what it is an amazingly cool find.

I just lifted the title from National Geographic, so they're wrong.

Gemini Cricket · 10-01-2009, 06:20 PM

Totally cool find.
But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

Tref · 10-01-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

Here?

Cadaverous Pallor · 10-01-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Totally cool find.
But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

After 4 million years, it's kind of tough to find these guys.

flippyshark · 10-01-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Totally cool find.
But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

Given the fairly narrow conditions under which dead bodies will produce fossils (dying in a mudbank is a pretty good way to do it) - we are lucky to have found as many fossils as we have.

Ghoulish Delight · 10-01-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Totally cool find.
But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Given the fairly narrow conditions under which dead bodies will produce fossils (dying in a mudbank is a pretty good way to do it) - we are lucky to have found as many fossils as we have.

What flippy said, plus while the one that's highlighted was by far the most complete, they actually found pieces of "at least 36 other individuals."

bewitched · 10-01-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Totally cool find.
But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?

Lying around the base of volcanoes on the planet Teegeeack.

Or something like that...

Alex · 10-01-2009, 07:37 PM

I think it is pretty clear that the lack of a missing link between this missing link and the other missing link is pretty clear evidence that evolution is a Nazi-istic conspiracy.

10-01-2009, 05:33 PM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Just for clarification, it doesn't disprove the "missing link." Disproving the missing link idea in general would be disproving that human and other apes share a common ancestor. It disproves a theory that the last common ancestor between human and other apes would be chimpanzee-like. And that's if this group's interpretation of the skeleton is correct (and this skeleton is even in our evolutionary path). But no matter what it is an amazingly cool find.
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10-01-2009, 06:20 PM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Totally cool find. But I can't help but wonder... we just found one? Where are all the others?
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10-01-2009, 07:37 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I think it is pretty clear that the lack of a missing link between this missing link and the other missing link is pretty clear evidence that evolution is a Nazi-istic conspiracy.
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