Information about Savanna Theory
The savanna theory is the term used by those in favour of the aquatic ape hypothesis for an older version of the conventional (non-aquatic) understanding of how humans acquired bipedalism and other uniquely human characteristics. Some of the more modern conventional ideas on the environments that influenced human evolution might be better described as mosaic theory, with humans evolving in a sparse mosaic forest. Both branches of the conventional theory, as opposed to the aquatic ape hypothesis, do not posit aquatic or littoral environments as the pivotal element in developing the distinct traits of the human.
"Generalist" is not a scientific term, but like the other great apes, humans are omnivores within a fairly restricted range. Their unique daily water requirements, until the discovery of water portability, limited the amount of time they could spend away from a potable water source: there is strong evidence that the first domesticated plant was the bottle gourd. [1]
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Summary
The savanna theory paradigm posits that the early hominids, faced with shrinking forests, took to bipedalism and ventured out into the savanna in search of game. This was enabled by their generalist nature, allowing them to adapt to many different circumstances."Generalist" is not a scientific term, but like the other great apes, humans are omnivores within a fairly restricted range. Their unique daily water requirements, until the discovery of water portability, limited the amount of time they could spend away from a potable water source: there is strong evidence that the first domesticated plant was the bottle gourd. [1]
History
The origins of savanna theory are linked with Professor Raymond Dart, a South African paleoanthropologist credited with the discovery of the Taung skull in 1925. The Taung skull was the first recognized link between man and the great apes, and Prof. Dart based his theory on the modern location of the discovered fossils. Despite now knowing that the conditions under which the Taung skull was deposited were much wetter than currently, the savanna theory remains a linchpin of modern anthropology.[2]Criticism
History
The earliest objections to the savanna theory came from the works of Alistir Hardy and Elaine Morgan who popularized the aquatic ape theory (AAT), which recognizes that many features of human anatomy and physiology must have been shaped by association with an aquatic environment; work being currently furthered by the Dutch physician Marc Verhaegen. Of the various objections to the savanna theory, this is the most technical and the most difficult to prove. AAT proponents have also required shifts in natural habitat as severe or more so than that of the savanna proponents. In the past decade or so, partly through dialogues carries out in the Yahoo AAT Group (in which Verhaegen participated), a littoral interpretation of human's aquatic past has begun to gain ascendance.Areas of Criticism
Supporters of AAT cite the timing and location of the disappearing forests as new discoveries constantly push back the earliest date of bipedalism. Other timing problems of the savanna theory are related to cultural adaptations necessary for savanna habitation aside from water portability, such as tool development; for example, sufficiently effective offensive and defensive weaponry wasn't developed until millions of years after the advent of bipedalism. Without such tools -- and protective clothing and weaponry -- humans are anatomically ill-suited for survival in open countryside.References
1. ^ Cf: The Gourd Book; Charles Bixler Heiser, 1979
2. ^ Cf., e.g., Scientific American, April 2006, "Why Are Some Animal So Smart?", pg. 71
2. ^ Cf., e.g., Scientific American, April 2006, "Why Are Some Animal So Smart?", pg. 71
- Bender, Renato; Verhaegen, Marc & Oser, Nicole (1997): Der Erwerb menschlicher Bipedie aus der Sicht der Aquatic Ape Theory. Anthropologischer Anzeiger 55 (1), 1-14.
- Bender, Renato and Oser, Nicole (1997): Gottesanbeterinnen, Maulwürfe und Menschen. Unipress 95, 20-26.
- Bender, Renato (1999): Die evolutionsbiologische Grundlage des menschlichen Schwimmens, Tauchens und Watens: Konvergenzforschung in den Terrestrisierungshypothesen und in der Aquatic Ape Theory. Diploma Thesis; Institut of Sport and Sport Science, University of Bern.
- Bender-Oser, Nicole: Die Aquatile Hypothese zum Ursprung des Menschen: Max Westenhöfer's Theorie und ihre Bedeutung für die Anthropologie (2004). - Medical Dissertation, Institut of History of Medicine, University of Bern.
- Heiser, Charles Bixler (1979). The Gourd Book.
- Morgan, Elaine (1997). The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis. Souvenir Press (London)
- Verhaegen, Marc (1993). Aquatic versus Savannah: Comparative and Paleo-environmental Evidence. Nutrition and Health 9: 165-191.
See also
External links
The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH), sometimes referred to as the aquatic ape theory (AAT), proposes that the ancestors of humans went through one or more periods of time living in more aquatic settings than modern non-human apes and that this history accounts for many of the
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Bipedalism is standing, or moving for example by walking, running, or hopping, on two appendages (typically legs). An animal or machine that usually moves in a bipedal manner is known as a biped (/'baɪ.
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aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems.
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Littoral refers to the coast of an ocean or sea, or to the banks of a river, lake or estuary. It is usually used as an adjective, but may also be used as a noun. The littoral zone is defined as the area between the high water and low water marks.
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An omnivore (from Latin: omne all, everything; vorare to devour) is a species of animal that eats both plants and animals as its primary food source.
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L. siceraria
Binomial name
Lagenaria siceraria
(Molina) Standl.
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Binomial name
Lagenaria siceraria
(Molina) Standl.
- This article is about one of the plant species by this name. For other uses, see Calabash (disambiguation).
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Raymond Dart (February 4 1893 – November 22 1988) was an Australian anatomist and anthropologist best known for his discovery in 1924 of a fossil of Australopithecus (extinct hominids closely related to humans) at Taung in Northwestern South Africa.
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Taung Child refers to the fossil of a skull specimen of Australopithecus africanus. It was discovered in 1924 by quarryman working for the Northern Lime Company in Taung, South Africa.
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s
1922 1923 1924 - 1925 - 1926 1927 1928
Year 1925 (MCMXXV
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1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s
1922 1923 1924 - 1925 - 1926 1927 1928
Year 1925 (MCMXXV
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Elaine Morgan (born 1920) is a Welsh feminist writer, best known for her television work, including screenwriting most of the episodes of Dr. Finlay's Casebook. She is also the author of several books about the aquatic ape hypothesis, among them
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The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH), sometimes referred to as the aquatic ape theory (AAT), proposes that the ancestors of humans went through one or more periods of time living in more aquatic settings than modern non-human apes and that this history accounts for many of the
..... Click the link for more information.
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Littoral refers to the coast of an ocean or sea, or to the banks of a river, lake or estuary. It is usually used as an adjective, but may also be used as a noun. The littoral zone is defined as the area between the high water and low water marks.
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Charles Robert Darwin
At the age of 51, Charles Darwin had just published On the Origin of Species.
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At the age of 51, Charles Darwin had just published On the Origin of Species.
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The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH), sometimes referred to as the aquatic ape theory (AAT), proposes that the ancestors of humans went through one or more periods of time living in more aquatic settings than modern non-human apes and that this history accounts for many of the
..... Click the link for more information.
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Bipedalism is standing, or moving for example by walking, running, or hopping, on two appendages (typically legs). An animal or machine that usually moves in a bipedal manner is known as a biped (/'baɪ.
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