Re: Why is Homo sapiens hairless?
Susan S. Chin (susansf@netcom.com)
Tue, 19 Nov 1996 03:05:18 GMT
: In article <01bbd4c2$6600e820$LocalHost@dan-pc>
: rohinton@collins.prestel.co.uk "Rohinton Collins" writes:
: > Whether it was hunting/foraging/scavenging, it would certainly
: > have given her species an advantage, one that would have perhaps have even
: > been necessary for her species to become successful terrestrial bipeds.
: > After all, there were plenty of other species of mammal which had been
: > around in this niche for a lot longer.
: > But I do agree that the australopithecines
: > most probably did not hunt. But they certainly foraged and scavenged.
Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk) wrote:
: There is no evidence at all for scavenging. And how would they get
: to the kills before all the other predators?
I believe the hypothesis put forth by Rob Blumenschine is that early
hominids were opportunistic scavengers, finding sources of protein and
fat in a part of the carcass the other predators and scavengers could not
get at: the marrow inside long bone shafts, which is rich in fat. In
order to access this marrow, early hominids would need to use simple
stone implements which could splinter the bone shaft... if the carcass is
relatively fresh, the marrow should be as well. This came from (and I am
rather reluctant to admit) one of the "Ancestors" NOVA installations. Anyone
have published citations of Blumenschine's research?
: > Do you have a good reference for the AAT on the Internet which
: > is concise?
: The only AAT Web site I know is Dewi Morgan's:
: www.geocities.com/Athens/5168/aat/html
Anyone care to summarize the AAT as a refresher?
Susan
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susansf@netcom.com
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