Agnostic Mom

The fun never stops! AgnosticMom reader, Olga, sent me this article. What makes this latest finding so significant has to do with location.

The species anamensis is not new, but its location is what helps explain the shift from one early phase of human-like development to the next, scientists say. All eight species were within an easy day’s walk of each other.

Why is the location significant?

Modern man belongs to the genus Homo, which is a subgroup in the family of hominids. What evolved into Homo was likely the genus Australopithecus (once called “man-ape”), which includes the famed 3.2 million-year-old “Lucy” fossil found three decades ago. A key candidate for the genus that evolved into Australopithecus is called Ardipithecus. And Thursday’s finding is important in bridging — but not completely — the gap between Australopithecus and Ardipithecus.

The location gives stronger indication that we evolved from one species to the next. It fills in a part of the possible map of how we got from there to here. It is further indication that we did, in fact, evolve.

Psst, Note to TXAtheist: I started writing up a post based on your question. As of right now it is completely incoherent and I am short on blogging time today. It’ll be up soon, I promise!