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Originally Posted by Profpat  Does anybody know where the Aborigines came from? Did they have their own evolutionary branch?
Also is there anything from their dreamtime philosophy/religion that would be inspirational for a TOE? As you are aware I like incorporating ancient thoughts into my An Idea. If I'm not mistaken it's something like Michael's consciousness theory.
Best to you,
Pat
P.S. Did you aver play the didgeridoo? |
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Originally Posted by Mohan.C Thanks a lot greg.
Its really amazing to know from where to where humans have traveled in the timeline. I like the history of evolution. More than that I like the evolution of man's mind. How could he have come to think of certain concepts, ideas........
Thanks again. |
I am not an expert, just an amateur. But here goes for a quick rundown on the '
journey of man'
Around 10 million years ago (mya) The tectonic plate that Africa floats on split in two. This is known today as the 'Great Rift Valley. The split was vast and deep, stretching from todays Syria in the North down to todays Mozambique in the South. All of Africa's Lakes are now located on this rift, some nearly 2 klm deep. The rift is around 6000 kilometres long.
Prior to the rift the whole area was covered in rainforest and along with thousands of other species was occupied by a species of Lemur like primates. The primates ended up on both sides of the rift.
The side we are concerned with suffered a severe climate change resulting in a shift towards more arid conditions. Trees became sparser and further apart. These primates already had developed a partially upright posture for walking along tree branches. This 'selection' now enabled them to walk upright between clumps of forest that were becoming separated by open grassy plain. They are known as Australopithicus Afarensis ... but you have probably heard of them by the most complete specimen found 'Lucy'
Here
Now for an important point. Our modern Brain today operates with 3 very simple concepts (simple is probably the wrong word LOL) I will try to explain each one as I go along ... I hope. LOL.
1.. First concept you need for a modern brain: The ability to cross connect ideas.
What does this mean. Here is a simple test. If I ask you:
'What is the difference between a stone and a branch ?'
You could
correctly reply:
'They are 2 entirely different compounds'
'What is the difference between a bone and water ?'
'Why you idiot they are 2 entirely different compounds'
What is the difference between water and sand ?
'You numbskull ... they are 2 different compounds
'OK .. what is the difference between Water and Ice ?'
Did you pause ? ... thats because you made a cross connection in your brain. Lucy could not do this ... she would have replied
that water and ice are 2 entirely different compounds. Her brain was smaller, (specifically her memory banks) not much bigger than a chimps. This was not her fault, the neurons required to cross connect the paths in her memory had not yet evolved. She was doing the best she could ... She was our ancestor ! She felt pain, loss, grief, happiness, and she loved ... but she did not know why !!
She would never leave Africa, she had no need to. 2.5 million years ago (mya) she and her kind disappeared from the fossil record.
Now, in the fossil record four new contenders for a modern brain appear.
Homo Rudolfensis.
Australopithicus Gahri
Australopithicus Africanus
Homo Habilus (Handyman)
Lets leave out the first 3 and just talk about Handyman. He was just a little guy, only coming up to our waist ... bullied and pushed out of the good territories. The only way he could get food was to scavenge and keep out of everyone else's way.
He made an incredible discovery ... He did this because he was incredibly curious, starvation makes you investigate every possible source. (his memory banks were larger than Lucys) By waiting his turn, until all the other predators had left the kill site, he collected the bones. Using rocks he smashed open the bones in a safe location and feasted on the marrow. He was the only, and the first, creature that worked this out.
Marrow and Brain are made from the same matter.
He had found a continuous source of food, easily collected. His brain, owing to this rich diet of pure brain matter grew in size and the
cross connections grew with it. The single leg bone of a Giraffe can contain 10kgs of marrow !
He was the first of our ancestors to make cross connections. He had made a connection between Stone and Bone to release food.
They were 2 different compounds but in some way that he did not really understand, they were connected. Even tho he was only a little, small timid curious fellow, he now stood tall amongst all others. He could organise, and he did. Working like a trained commando unit, they would throw rocks at Lions and Hyenas that had made a fresh kill. The lions were bigger and stronger, but they were frightened by the swarm of Handyman and missiles approaching.
He would never set foot outside of Africa, he had no need to. He disappears from the fossil record about 1.8 mya.
He was my favourite !!
My next post will explain the second concept required to have a modern brain.
Hope I am not boring you guys.
cool bananas ... greg
