Darwin-L Message Log 7:73 (March 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<7:73>From princeh@husc.harvard.edu  Sun Mar 20 15:59:59 1994

Date: Sun, 20 Mar 1994 16:23:40 -0500 (EST)
From: Patricia Princehouse <princeh@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Re: Time article
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu

On Fri, 18 Mar 1994, JOHN LANGDON In message wrote:

> Many other interesting questions arise from the new date. When
> did hominids leave Africa? The 2.0 Myr faunal date from 'Ubeidiya in
> Israel suddenly looks more plausible. What species first left Africa?
> Instead of erectus, we are now forced to consider something more along
> the lines of ergaster or habilis. We now have a new missing link between
> the early African Homo and Asian erectus. I think the question of where
> in Africa Homo arose is more open than ever. The Rift Valley dates now
> seem too recent. Very likely the focus on the Rift Valley has been only
> an artifact of sampling.

Yes, these are the really interesting questions. But they don't appear in
the Time article so they probably aren't the reason for the article.

	For people less acquainted with these issues, the Garland Press
1988 _The Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory_ Eds. Delson et
al, provides excellent discussion of the major issues including fossils,
genetics, evolutionary theory, Pleistocene art and more with beautiful
photos and drawings.

Patricia Princehouse
Princeh@harvard.edu

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