Fossil Skeleton From Africa Predates Lucy

Helen Parzick 10/19/09

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/science/02fossil.html.

In the article “Fossil Skeleton From Africa Predates Lucy”, which appeared in the Science section of the NY Times on October 1, the reporter details the discovery of “Ardi”, a skeleton unearthed in Africa in 1992. The skeleton was discovered by an international team and later analyzed by Dr. White of the University of California Berkeley and others leading scientists. The significance of Ardi is that he predates Lucy (the famous Australopithecus afarensis discovered in 1974) and is now considered the oldest fossil in existence. Ardi is 4.4 million years old; Lucy was 3.2 million years old. Until the discovery of Ardi, it was believed that hominids walked on all fours. It is clear from Ardi’s pelvic structure that she walked on two feet but had a less developed brain than Lucy. However, Ardi, like a chimp, possessed great agility. Scientists believe that the order of development of hominids progressed from chimp/ape/monkey to Australopithecus afarensis to Australopithecus Africanus to Homo erectus to Homo neanderthalensis to Homo sapiens

The article does not necessarily effect humanity on a daily basis however; it has a meaningful impact on how we view the evolution of Homo sapiens and our ancestry. It has caused scientists and evolutionary historians to question their long held opinions and beliefs. According to the article, scientists said, Ardi opened a window to “the early evolutionary steps that our ancestors took after we diverged from our common ancestor with chimpanzees.”

I thought that the article was both interesting and well written. Even though to some the terminology might seem confusing, I have learned about evolution and these terms in specific before. I found this article to be intriguing because it is amazing to me how one discovery can change so many ideas and beliefs, but finding Ardie helped link many gaps in evolution.

Wilford, John N.. "Fossil Skeleton From Africa Predates Lucy The New York Times (2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/science/02fossil.html.

(accessed October 19, 2009).