I've seen a number of articles and possibly a documentary about the cave, but I'll have a look at that one.
B > On 26 Nov 2015, at 17:50, Paul <pentax1...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Here's the most (or one of the most) recent discoveries of another branch or > our human family tree. Named homo naledi, the fossils were discovered in > 2013 some 100 feet underground in a chamber with very difficult access. > Among the interesting elements, besides the location, are the existence of > complete skeletons and that they appear to have been placed there as part of > a death ritual, suggesting the development of a culture. > > http://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/chamberof-discovery/ > > Nova, broadcast on PBS here in the US, has a documentary on the discovery and > retrieving a small portion of the thousands of bones. It's a couple hours > long, but an interesting watch... > > http://video.pbs.org/video/2365559270/ > > -p > >> On 11/26/2015 4:43 AM, Bob W wrote: >> I'm not as strong-willed as Frank, so I don't mind answering this because >> I'm curious to see where it's going. >> >> Humans are most closely related to common chimps and to bonobos. Since >> common chimps and bonobos diverged after humans diverged we are equally >> closely related to both. >> >> Jared Diamond wrote an excellent book called The Rise and Fall of the Third >> Chimpanzee in which he argues for the rights of the (other) great apes, and >> talks about the closeness of humans and chimps. It's quite an old book now >> so some of the human ancestry stuff is probably outdated, but it is still an >> excellent read. >> >> The question of the most recent common ancestor of humans and chimps does >> not seem to have been settled yet. There are several candidates, but >> discoveries seem to happen so often that before the ink is dry on the latest >> paper someone announces another candidate. >> >> I don't think there's any reason to suppose we'll ever identify The One. >> There seems to have been a very complex and rapid set of speciations >> happening around the estimated time of the split. Even if fossils are found >> of The One it may be difficult to prove among all the other candidates, but >> we'll probably have a reasonably accurate idea of the type of creature it >> was. >> >> The current candidates include Orrorin tugenensis from Kenya, and >> Sahelanthropus tchadensis, but there are so many different theories that >> somebody like me who just follows the subject from a distance would be >> unwise to say 'this is the one'. Having watched from the sidelines for about >> 40 years and seen so many apparently strong candidates sidelined I wouldn't >> even hazard a guess. >> >> Can I have my surprise now? >> >> B >> >> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: PDML [mailto:pdml-boun...@pdml.net] On Behalf Of Alan C >>> Sent: Thursday, 26 November, 2015 5:06 AM >>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> >>> Subject: Re: PESO - The Protestor >>> >>> Go on, I dare you, be a devil. Do some research. You may be surprised what >>> you find. >>> >>> Alan C >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: knarf >>> Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2015 6:52 AM >>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> Subject: Re: PESO - The Protestor >>> >>> I have no idea which other great ape is "closest" to humans. I suppose it >>> would be either chimps or bonobos but that's just a non-scientific >> feeling. >>> My opinion really doesn't mean much. >>> >>> Whoever the common ancestor of the great apes was, is not a matter of >>> opinion. However I have no idea who that might be. Paleontology is not an >>> area that I have much expertise, or for that matter, interest in. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> frank >>> >>>> On November 25, 2015 10:40:52 PM EST, Alan C <c...@lantic.net> wrote: >>>> You're right. Perhaps "living cousins" would have been better. >>>> "Genetically >>>> we're close to chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans" - which, in >>>> your opinion is closest to humans? Do you have an opinion as to who the >>>> common ancestor may have been. "I have to say, I rather feel as if I'm >>>> being cross-examined here, as if you're moving toward a conclusion, or >>>> tying to trap me in some way" - not really, I'm trying to establish a >>>> common base so we can further our discourse. >>>> >>>> Alan C >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: knarf >>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 10:10 PM >>>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> Subject: Re: PESO - The Protestor >>>> >>>> I don't understand your question. We don't have any "living ancestors" >>>> in >>>> evolutionary terms. >>>> >>>> As I said earlier, we're great apes, so genetically we're close to >>>> chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. But they aren't ancestors or >>>> somehow "below" us. We share a common ancestor and each species has >>>> evolved differently to where we are today. >>>> >>>> I have to say, I rather feel as if I'm being cross-examined here, as if >>>> >>>> you're moving toward a conclusion, or tying to trap me in some way. >>>> >>>> Could we get to the point please? >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> frank >>>> >>>>> On November 25, 2015 11:08:57 AM EST, Alan C <c...@lantic.net> wrote: >>>>> Which are our closest living ancestors or perhaps those most like us? >>>>> >>>>> Alan C >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: knarf >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 4:57 PM >>>>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> Subject: Re: PESO - The Protestor >>>>> >>>>> I'm not sure exactly what you mean, however humans are animals, great >>>>> apes to be exact, and like every other animal on the face of the >>>>> earth, we have evolved from ancestors to our current form. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers, >>>>> >>>>> frank >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On November 25, 2015 9:41:37 AM EST, Alan C <c...@lantic.net> wrote: >>>>>> Do you consider humans to be part of the evolutionary scale? >>>>>> >>>>>> Alan C > > -- > Being old doesn't seem so old now that I'm old. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
