New human fossil discovery has everyone questioning the origin of mankind

[Judi Lynn]

By Joshua Hawkins
July 3rd, 2022 at 10:34 AM

We have long debated the origin of mankind. Some believe in God’s creation of man in his own image, while others say that mankind evolved from another species. Now, new evidence found in South Africa has reignited questions about where modern humans come from, and what species we may have left behind.

Way back in 1947, Robert Broom and John T. Robinson discovered the fossils of an ancient pre-human now known as Mrs. Ples. At the time, many believed the skull, identified as part of Australopithecus africanus, to be around 2.1 to 2.6 million years old. Many also believed the genus Australopithecus to be the likely precursor to the genus homo, marking it as the evolutionary origin of mankind.

Now, though, a new study has thrown all of these beliefs out the window. Researchers published the new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In it, authors Darryl Granger and others posit that the skull date back to between 3.4 to 3.6 million years.

That’s almost a one-million-year difference. As such, this study’s discovery has thrown a wrench into the theories that Mrs. Ples and other skeletons that were dated similarly are the precursors to modern humankind.

More:
https://bgr.com/science/new-human-fossil-discovery-has-everyone-questioning-the-origin-of-mankind/

[wryter2000]

1. Fascinating

However, it would be nice to include the female of the species in the discussion. Is it too much to ask for "humankind" or "humans" or "homo sapiens" instead of "mankind"? And don't get me started on calling the species "man."

I realize that wasn't your language, but Joshua Hawkins needs to rethink his way of speaking about the species.