Boxgrove: The oldest human fossils in Britain

The article describes that the Boxgrove dig was running low on funding after 8 years of digging but was
revived after a human leg bone was discovered. The remains are the oldest human fossils in Britain and
reveal the environment and habits of the human while it was alive. Tools and animal bones around the
remains revealed that large animals were hunted and butchered because there was indication of tools
marks on the animal bones rather than teeth and claws from being hunted by other animals. This helped
draw a conclusion that the animals that were butchered weren’t scavenged from other predators. The
stature and mans eating habits could be determined from just his teeth.

The way archaeologists use damage and signs of wear in the bones to learn about the persons eating
habits and lifestyle remind me of crime shows that lean on forensic magic. The conclusions they draw
always seem so far-fetched but its not too unlike archaeology. The conclusions drawn may seem
outlandish but are based on years of past findings and evidence. For example, the archaeologists at
Boxgrove knew that the humans in the area likely used similar spears to ones found in Germany by just
the damage found on animal bones.

Pit of Bones

The pit of bones provided evidence that prompted a change in popular belief of when human began
populating Europe. The bones were dated to almost 300,000 years before previously archaeologists
thought humans would have populated Europe. The bones of around 80 individuals and two groups
were dated thousands of years apart and show ancestors leading up to the Neanderthals. The first
groups bones show they might’ve been victims of cannibalism and the second might’ve originated from
burials practices or disposal after an epidemic. The second group was more similar to the Neanderthals,
leading archaeologists to assume the two populations were ancestors lead towards Neanderthals instead
of divergent species.

The location of Neanderthal populations was discussed in lecture to cover most of southern Europe and
into Asia. The Pit of Bones proves that other populations of hominids were there long before and were
likely ancestors of Neanderthals. The lectures also go into how all the different species have similarities
to other species. In the pit, the earlier population of humans showed many similar traits to a variety of
different species, showing traits to later be found in both Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. The changing
features of the humans in the pit reflect the diversity in early human ancestors discussed in the lecture.

The Hobbit

It was previously believed that homo sapiens and homo erectus were the only human species to migrate
as far as southeast Asia. A smaller species was discovered on an island called Flores that was dated to a
time that only homo sapiens were thought to be alive. Its theorized that homo erectus was isolated on
the island and adapted to be smaller and consume less resources over time. It was also possible that a
more primitive human ancestor migrated to southeast Asia earlier than previously thought. This was
thought to only apply to modern humans but could explain how they ended up smaller than homo
sapiens.
The isolation and extreme differences of the humans on Flores reminds me of learning about the
different types of evolution in high school. Isolation was one of the most dramatic driving forces of
adaptation being represented by the Galapagos islands. If homo erectus or a more primitive species was
able to change so dramatically from being isolated on one island, were their other species of humans
with similar dramatic changes due to isolation or another driving force? With other animals, they don’t
have means of leaving the island in most cases, however humans have already migrated to the island. Its
interesting that a species of humans could be isolated on one island for thousands of years.

Dmansi

Excavation under a ruined medieval village in Dmansi, Georgia revealed human remains of a species
older than archaeologists had previously believed human to have left Africa. The remains of homo
erectus dated back to roughly 1.5 million years which is roughly 200,000 years earlier than previously
discovered homo erectus. The remains were dated using other animal bones found near by and argon
dating of volcanic rocks underneath. The find challenged the belief that human migration out of Africa
was driven by advancements in tools and social habits. It instead suggests migration occurred as humans
expanded their range to hunt as their diet was becoming more meat oriented than plant based.

As mentioned in a lecture, archaeologists are constantly back-peddling and coming out with new more
accurate information about human history. This article highlights that very well because it describes how
previous beliefs were hundreds of thousands of years away from the new evidence. The other articles
are similar to this one in that they show how past beliefs were dashed and new ones were redrawn. It
demonstrates that the absolute truth about our past probably wont be set in stone for us to know.