Paleoanthropologist (people who does scientific study of
human evolution) believes that human was evolved from an ape like creature that
existed some 6-8 million years ago. It was the common ancestor of modern
humans, apes, gorillas, chimpanzees. That’s why we resemble in appearance.
Researches proves that humans evolved in Africa, and much of
our evolution occurred there. Fossils of early human that lived 6-8 million years
ago entirely come from this continent. So, we all were African at the beginning
of our evolution. Early human first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably
between 1.8-2 million years ago. They then entered Europe some 1-1.5 million
years ago and another continent much later.
Bipedalism (ability to walk on two legs) plays vital role in
human evolution. Human ancestor used to walk on four legs. Our ability to walk
on two legs evolved over 4 million years ago. If somehow, we were not able to
walk on two legs, we wouldn’t have made it this far. This ability was evolved
when we left trees and started to live on land. Bipedalism changed the internal
skeletal system of early human. Their spinal cord had to adapt accordingly.
Bipedalism is believed to have set the foundation for early human to evolve
into homo sapiens.
( I will be writing on lifestyles of early human in the next blog)
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