Homo's trail to China, just follow the savanna (was Re: Evolution


Sileshi Semaw

Journal of Archaeological Science (2000) 27, 1197-1214

The World's Oldest Stone Artefacts from Gona, Ethiopia: Their
Implications for Understanding Stone Technology and Patterns
of Human Evolution Between 2·6-1·5 Million Years Ago


Abstract
The systematic archaeological and geological survey and excavations at
Gona between 1992-1994 led to the discovery
of well-flaked stone artefacts which are currently the oldest known
from anywhere in the world. More than 3000 surface
and excavated artefacts were recovered at 15 localities documented
east and west of the Kada Gona river. Based on
radioisotopic dating (40Ar/39Ar) and magnetostratigraphy, the
artefacts are dated between 2·6-2·5 million years ago
(Ma). EG10 and EG12 from East Gona are the most informative with the
highest density, providing the best
opportunity for characterizing the oldest assemblages and for
understanding the stone working capability of the earliest
tool makers. Slightly younger artefact occurrences dated to 2·4-2·3 Ma
are known from Hadar and Omo in Ethiopia,
and from Lokalalei in Kenya. Cut-marked bones dated to 2·5 Ma from
Bouri in Ethiopia are now providing important
clues on the function of these artefacts. In addition,
Australopithecus garhi known from contemporary deposits at Bouri
may be the best candidate responsible for the oldest artefacts.
Surprisingly, the makers of the Gona artefacts had a
sophisticated understanding of stone fracture mechanics and control
similar to what is observed for Oldowan
assemblages dated between 2·0-1·5 Ma. This observation was
corroborated by the recent archaeological discoveries
made at Lokalalei. Because of the similarities seen in the techniques
of artefact manufacture during the Late
Pliocene-Early Pleistocene, it is argued here that the stone
assemblages dated between 2·6-1·5 Ma group into the
Oldowan Industry. The similarity and simplicity of the artefacts from
this time interval suggests a technological stasis
in the Oldowan.

Gona:
"ostrich-egg shell fragments are more closely associated with the
lithic artigacts"
H. Roche et al. Nature Vol 399:59

Sahara Desert:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/africa/bir_sahara.bir_tarwafi.html
"After this level is the final Acheulian springs, with occasional
Acheulian bifaces found there.
Some faunal remains found were ostrich eggshell, a tooth belonging to
a warthog, and other bones.
This period ended when the spring dried up. This was followed by a
significant period of eolian erosion."

Dmanisi:
"Researchers also have found
a wealth of animal remains from the same period, including elephants,
gazelles, rhinos, sabre-toothed cats, giraffes, bears, ostriches,
wolves and
rodents."
Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili

China:
Xing Gao et al.
New Light on the Earliest Hominid Occupation in East Asia1
Xing Gao; Qi Wei; Chen Shen; Susan Keates
Current Anthropology; Dec 2005; 46

S18: "Preliminary identification of the bones and teeth, most of which
are in
a fragmentary state, point to birds, including ostrich...."





On Dec 28, 12:02 pm, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Natura non facit saltum, Darwin said. Every evolutionary step is small &
every evolutionary phase has to be viable. Although there are a few human
populations living in savannas today (thanks to water bags, tools, weapons
etc.), a *direct* transition of a primate to the savanna can produce a fast
hairy quadruped (baboon, patas, savanna chimp...) but no fat naked biped.
OTOH, a transition from swamp forest to tree-poor waterside can easily
happen gradually & produce an ape that loses its fur, develops SC fat &
wades upright.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAThttp://allserv.rug.ac.be/~mvaneech/outthere.htmhttp://allserv.rug.ac.be/~mvaneech/Fil/Verhaegen_Human_Evolution.html

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