
These new fossils, dates, analyses, and interpretations lead to confirmation and refinement of the mosaic scheme of human evolution as proposed by early evolutionists such as Lamarck, Haeckel, and Darwin. Evolutionary changes in the body adapting our ancestors to bipedalism occurred before 3 million years ago, judging by the completeness of the adaptation in the late Pliocene-early Pleistocene hominids. The skeletons of these early hominids were not identical to those of modern humans, but locomotor behavior was probably human. At about 3 million years ago their brains were relatively small, although internal reorganization may have been taking place. By 2 million years ago a wider range of variation in brain size appears in the fossil record, with an average size somewhat larger than that in earlier hominids. Concomitant with this beginning of brain size increase was the reshaping of the pelvic region, perhaps related to an increase in birth canal size to accommodate larger-brained fetuses. Evidence for tool manufacturing, meat eating, shelter building, and probably food sharing also occurs at about this time, which signals the coming of a new adaptive strategy.
Hip, Fossils, Swine, Body Weight, Brain, Paleontology, Haplorhini, Organ Size, Biological Evolution, Anthropology, Physical, Hindlimb, Forelimb, Animals, Humans, Femur, Gait
Hip, Fossils, Swine, Body Weight, Brain, Paleontology, Haplorhini, Organ Size, Biological Evolution, Anthropology, Physical, Hindlimb, Forelimb, Animals, Humans, Femur, Gait
| citations The total number of citations received by all articles of the researcher of interest. | 107 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
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| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
