Message #231274

[Kristin Moore]

Analysis of Early Hominins

    The bones of more than 500 early hominins have been found.  From them, we have gained a broad understanding of these related species using an array of new technological aids.
    click this icon in order to see the following video  New Technology for Old Fossils--members of the Human Origins Program team of the Smithsonian
            Institution describe how they use cutting-edge technology in their scientific investigations.
            This link takes you to a video at an external website.  To return here, you must click the "back" button
            on your browser program.         (length = 2 mins, 23 secs)

    It is now understood that while there were considerable anatomical differences between the early hominins, they also shared a number of important traits.  By 3 million years ago, most of them probably were nearly as efficient at bipedal locomotion as humans.  Like people, but unlike apes, the bones of their pelvis, or hip region, were shortened from top to bottom and bowl-shaped (shown below).  This made the pelvis more stable for weight support when standing or moving bipedally.  The longer ape pelvis is adapted for quadrupedal locomotion.  Early hominin leg and foot bones were also much more similar to ours than to those of apes.  This is consistent with the likelihood of early hominin bipedalism.

   

Comparison of Pelvis and Foot Bones