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September 20, 2006
World's Oldest Child (Fossils)
Today, from National Geographic News, came the announcement of the discovery of a 3.3 million years old fossilized toddler.
"Lucy's Baby" -- World's Oldest Child -- Found by Fossil Hunters
James Owen
for National Geographic News
September 20, 2006
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060920-lucys-baby.html
"Found in sandstone in the Dikika area, the remains include a remarkably well preserved skull, milk teeth, tiny fingers, a torso, a foot, and a kneecap no bigger than a dried pea."
More information is available from other news sources.
Three million-year-old skeleton fills in missing link
By Mark Henderson, Science Editor of The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2367328,00.html
"Another interesting feature is the hyoid or tongue bone, which has never been found before in a species older than Neanderthal man. It influences the voice box and is important to the debate about the origins of human speech. Selam’s hyoid is much more similar to that of modern apes than humans, suggesting that A. afarensis was not capable of language."
Posted by pfa at September 20, 2006 08:08 PM