By Alex P. Vidal
HERE'S another reason why we should prolong our patience and should not easily blow our top over mundane matters; why, in my personal philosophy, I categorically state that "my patience is longer than the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge."
For a long time after Charles Darwin stated his theory of evolution, scientists searched for fossils which would trace man's ancestry back to the apes.
Around 1890, for example, DuBois' discovery of the bones of the Java ape-man was hailed as the finding of the so-called missing link.
Now we realize that man did not evolve from apes as we know them today.
Now we realize that man did not evolve from apes as we know them today.
Man and apes are separate branches of the evolutionary tree, and the common ancestor from which they sprang is known.
Since man is the only animal who writes books and figures out systems of classifications, it may be only natural that he gives himself a special place in the scheme of things.
Man had to put himself in the subphylum Vertebrates, and the class Mammals, for he is clearly a mammal.
He is also in the order Primates, along with the many kinds of apes and monkeys because of his hands fitted for grasping and his flat fingernails.
He is also in the order Primates, along with the many kinds of apes and monkeys because of his hands fitted for grasping and his flat fingernails.
But man is given a family all to himself--the Hominidae.
In this family there is but one genus today, Homo, and but one species, Homo sapiens.
Thus the classification of man shows how far apart he is from even his nearest relatives, the other Primates.
In this family there is but one genus today, Homo, and but one species, Homo sapiens.
Thus the classification of man shows how far apart he is from even his nearest relatives, the other Primates.
In other words, scientists now believe that man's development began before any monkeys or apes existed on earth; man and the monkeys branched off, about one million years ago, from some common ancestor.
HISTORY
It is a simple matter for us to supply our date and place of birth because it is quite recent and because accurate records are kept in modern times.
But the only way we can supply this information about ancient man is from a study of his fossil remains, and from the tools and other implements (called artifacts) which he left behind.
But the only way we can supply this information about ancient man is from a study of his fossil remains, and from the tools and other implements (called artifacts) which he left behind.
On this basis, man's (or his "almost human" ancestors') appearance on earth is placed at about one million years ago.
His place of birth is thought by many to have been in Asia, but some scientists believe that he had his beginnings in Africa.
His place of birth is thought by many to have been in Asia, but some scientists believe that he had his beginnings in Africa.
Only about 300 complete or incomplete human fossils of the apelike men have been discovered.
This small number of remains is the result of several factors.
The very first humans probably lived in forests where any dead body was immediately destroyed by other animals or by bacterial action.
This small number of remains is the result of several factors.
The very first humans probably lived in forests where any dead body was immediately destroyed by other animals or by bacterial action.
Later on, when burial customs developed, bodies were buried where decay set in easily.
PRIMITIVE
It is really impossible to state just when man became man, that is, when the earliest man-like animals could be described as true human species.
However, the following may be considered the most primitive types, according to the High Points in Biology:
However, the following may be considered the most primitive types, according to the High Points in Biology:
JAVA APE-MAN. This fossil turned up in a river bed in Java, Indonesia. The actual remains of skull, thigh bone and teeth indicate that he had a narrow forehead, heavy beetling (overhanging) brows, very little chin, and was in other ways ape-like in appearance. He walked erect, was about 5 feet and 6 inches tall, and lived about half a million years ago. Java man, by the way, is classified in a different genus, Pithecanthropus.
PEKING MAN. Discovered in 1926 in Peking, China. This man was similar in structure and appearance to Java man and probably lived about the same time. By 1940, 26 million human fossils had been dug up together with various stone implements, pothole fireplaces, and burned remains of animal bones. Indications are that Peking man had learned the use of fire and how to make primitive tools.
HEIDELBERG MAN. Only the lower jaw and teeth have been found. The teeth are definitely human, but the chin is ape-like in appearance.
HOAX
Two fragments of a skull and jawbone called as "Piltdown Man" were claimed to have been discovered in England in 1912.
This "man" appeared to have a forehead that was distinctly human, but with apelike teeth and jaw.
It was revealed that the "find" was a hoax, constructed from parts of a human skull and an ape's jaw.
This incident shows how uncertain our knowledge of man's beginnings is.
This "man" appeared to have a forehead that was distinctly human, but with apelike teeth and jaw.
It was revealed that the "find" was a hoax, constructed from parts of a human skull and an ape's jaw.
This incident shows how uncertain our knowledge of man's beginnings is.
The prehistoric ancestors of ours lived in caves.
They were called as "Cave Men."
Although the first fossils were discovered in Gibraltar in 1848, it wasn't until more of them turned up in the Neanderthal Valley in Germany in 1856 that scientists recognized the existence of this distinct type of human.
They were called as "Cave Men."
Although the first fossils were discovered in Gibraltar in 1848, it wasn't until more of them turned up in the Neanderthal Valley in Germany in 1856 that scientists recognized the existence of this distinct type of human.
Fossils of the cave men have been found in great abundance all over Europe, as well as in Asia and parts of Africa. Apparently, this group of men known as "Neanderthal Men," lived between 25,000 and 50,000 years ago.
They were under five and one-half feet in height, stocky, large-chested, and had a large head and beetling brows.
They were under five and one-half feet in height, stocky, large-chested, and had a large head and beetling brows.
Thousands of implements and weapons fashioned by this group have been discovered.
Bones and flint were the principal materials used for these objects.
Neanderthal man is the first man to put in the genus Homo, but he is considered to be a distinct species from modern man.
Bones and flint were the principal materials used for these objects.
Neanderthal man is the first man to put in the genus Homo, but he is considered to be a distinct species from modern man.
MODERN
Neanderthal man settled in Europe and remained there for thousands of years.
Then, about 25,000 years ago, a new group of individuals appeared and displaced Neanderthal man in Europe. Probably coming in from Asia or Africa, this new, Cro-Magnon man soon enjoyed existence as the most powerful and important species on earth.
The first skeletons of this type were found in 1868 in the caves of Cro-Magnon, France.
Then, about 25,000 years ago, a new group of individuals appeared and displaced Neanderthal man in Europe. Probably coming in from Asia or Africa, this new, Cro-Magnon man soon enjoyed existence as the most powerful and important species on earth.
The first skeletons of this type were found in 1868 in the caves of Cro-Magnon, France.
Cro-Magnon Man was so similar to man today, that both are in the same species, Homo sapiens.
It seems likely that Cro-Magnon man is a direct ancestor of many European groups today.
It seems likely that Cro-Magnon man is a direct ancestor of many European groups today.
He averaged over six feet in height, walked erect, and was physically well built.
He had a high forehead, and the size of the skull case indicates that a large brain was present.
He had a high forehead, and the size of the skull case indicates that a large brain was present.
This group of men were skilled toolmakers.
They worked with bone, horn, ivory, and flint and created a wide variety of fine, delicate tools and weapons.
Evidence of their artistic ability is shown in the many drawings and paintings left behind them on their cave walls, as well as by the remains of many models and bone carvings.
They worked with bone, horn, ivory, and flint and created a wide variety of fine, delicate tools and weapons.
Evidence of their artistic ability is shown in the many drawings and paintings left behind them on their cave walls, as well as by the remains of many models and bone carvings.
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