Human Origins Research Article Summaries

Intra- and Interspecific Variation in Primate Gene Expression Patterns - This article presents interesting evidence explaining why humans and chimpanzees, although 98.7% identical in DNA sequences, are so different morphologically, behaviorally, and cognitively.

Remains of Homo erectus from Bouri, Middle Awash, Ethiopia - A one million year old calvaria found in Ethiopia's Middle Awash may shed new light on the diversity of Homo erectus . Because of the fossil's Asian H. erectus characteristics, it calls into question the separation of Homo erectus into two species.

New hominin genus from eastern Africa shows diverse middle Pliocene lineages. - This article announces a new genus and species of early human, Kenyanthropus platyops, which is based on fossilized bone remains found at the Lomekwi localities in the Turkana District of northern Kenya. Prior to the announcement of Kenyanthropus platyops, the known fossils suggested that only one species of early human had existed in East Africa between 3.5 and 3 million years ago. The new finds instead support the idea that multiple species of early hominin had evolved during this time span.

Earliest Presence of Humans in Northeast Asia - New paleomagnetic data shows that Homo was in Northern China by 1.36 million years ago. This indicates that early on Homo had the ability to travel long distances and inhabit northern environments with a relatively simple tool kit.

Late Miocene hominids from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia - Eleven hominid fossils have been found from the Late Miocene and exhibit a mosaic of primitive and derived characteristics. These fossils have been placed in a subspecies to Ardipithecus . Paleoenvironmental data indicates that these early humans may have first evolved in a wooded environment. Vertebrate fossils and chemical analysis of isotopes confirm this.

An engraved bone fragment from c. 70,000-year-old Middle Stone Age levels at Blombos Cave, South Africa: Implications for the origin of symbolism and language. - Carvings found in South Africa's Blombos Cave point to Africa as the Birthplace of 'modern' human behavior. Geometric patterns are carved on a jaw fragment and on ochre, both dating to 77,000 years ago.

Earliest Pleistocene hominid cranial remains from Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia: Taxonomy, Geological Setting, and Age - Fossil remains of early humans and a rich collection of stone tool artifacts from the site of Dmanisi in the former Soviet nation of Georgia date back to roughly 1.7 million years ago. These finds represent the earliest evidence of human beings outside of Africa. While similar in cranial capacity to earlier species in the genus Homo, the morphology of the two skulls found at Dmanisi most closely resemble the African species Homo ergaster.

Early human occupation of the Red Sea coast of Eritrea during the Last Interglacial - A recent study reveals that early humans, likely in the form of Homo sapiens, were inhabiting the coastal areas of what is today Eritrea by around 130,000 years ago. This finding has bearing on the expansion of human populations into new ecological niches, and on the development of the behaviors associated with exploiting the resources of a coastal region.

Mid-Pleistocene Acheulean-like Stone Technology of the Bose Basin, South China - Researchers from the Human Origins Program and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing have found evidence of large cutting tools in the Bose Basin in southern China every bit as sophisticated as their African or European counterparts. The presence of these tools, at roughly 800,000 years ago puts to rest the idea that East Asia was a "cultural backwater" at this crucial period in human evolutionary history.

Anatomical Evidence for Knuckle-walking Found in Early Human Fossils - Studying the bones of the wrist, researchers find evidence of a bony ridge in the earliest fossil species of the human lineage. This anatomical feature is similar to that found in the knuckle-walking apes; gorillas and chimpanzees, and could imply a common knuckle-walking ancestor for all gorillas, chimpanzees and humans.

Australopithecus garhi: A New Species of Early Hominid from Ethiopia - In sediments two and one half million years old, remains of early humans that have been assigned to a new species, Australopithecus garhi, shows an intriguing combination of primitive and derived traits.

One-Million-Year-Old Cranium of Genus Homo Found in Eritrea - In sediment dated to roughly one million years ago, scientist uncover a cranium of genus Homo that exhibits a curious mix of morphological traits that are both primitive and modern.

Endocranial Capacity in Early Human Cranium from Sterkfontein, South Africa - The large Australopithecus africanus cranium, Stw 505 ("Mr. Ples") was anecdotally reported to have a cranial capacity exceeding 600cc. This report sent tremors through the community as this figure is over 100cc larger than the largest previously recorded A. africanus cranial capacity. Researchers use CT scans and 3D computer modeling to create a virtual endocast of the brain to verify these findings.

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