The ever so enduring investigation of human beings tends to establish an intense controversy between clashing topics and theories. One of the more intriguing aspects of human beings are the theories and evidence of biocultural evolution. As members of this species, it is essential to understand our history and the evolution behind it. Jessica Thompson, a dedicated anthropologist situated at Yale University, recently developed a theory which contrasts the pre-existing theory; suggesting cerebral evolution stemmed from the emergence of stone tools. On the contrary, Tompsons new theory suggests that early hominids blunted bones to harvest marrows and brain. In the greater perspective, the theory suggests that biocultural evolution in regard to feeding habits was the direct factor of encephalization of the hominins.
Biocultural is defined as the holistic interaction between biological and cultural aspects that contribute to the everlasting, inevitable biological evolution. In the article, Thompson’s main arguments to support her new-found theory suggests that in this specific case, Hominins harvesting outer-bone flesh and meat would have serious implications, she also suggested that the marrow of the prey are proven stay preserved longer when they are locked within the bones, very similar to the brain and the skull. “These highly nutritional parts are also a precursor to the fatty acids involved with brain and eye development” (Kemeny 2019), during the ecephelization that occurred approximately 3 mya, Homo habilis began to develop a more broad skull into the Homo erectus opposed to the previous elongated skull. Then developed even further to how our heads are shaped today (Homosapiens), which are considerably more equally rounded and larger than the previous, to accomodate for the development of our eyes and brain.
The theory of encephalization of the hominin suggests that Thompsons new theory is relatively supported by previous academic material and theories. Her ideology implies that during hunting, hominids typically would encounter other predators while recovering the meat of their prey. This made it especially difficult for hominins to acquire the necessary nutrition for long term development. The assumed solution was that early hominins would relocate the cartcasses of their prey to avoid this, but this theory was controversial due to the proof of hominids hunting significantly larger prey when proportionally compared. Thompson’s theory entails that due to the previously stated discentives, the solution was to harvest the interior sources of nourishment that could be preserved over long periods of time within the bones.
127 our experts are availableright now
When the period of human encephalization occured, hominid dental morphology indicated that at the periods of the Habilis and Erectus, the facial prognathism (the shape of the lower jaw) was much more moderate compared to the current homospaiens structure which is much more benign. Thompson also introduced an interesting theory, “The chance of encountering predators is high when scraping raw flesh from a carcass. Chewing raw meat without specialized teeth doesn’t give much energetic benefit, studies have shown” (Kemeny 2019) which consolidates with the evolution of the maxillomandibular.
As the hominids began to acquire meat through the interior of the bones, which is valued more nutritionally, opposed to the outer flesh, the development and shaping of both the mandible and maxilla, alongside the teeth, would reduce due to the exploitation of the softer marrow and brain. It was also stated in the article that the hominids at the time did not have developed teeth to redeem the proper nutritional value that the outer-skin had to offer, so they adapted to consuming inner marrow. Although the main development of the mandible and maxilla were accounted for due to the development of speech and communication, it is still an interesting thought of contribution of development in regards to this specific case given in the article.
In addition to the new theories surrounding the consumption of meat, Thompson also implied that she had encountered signs of butchery when she was conducting research in Dikka back in 2010. The butchery signs were described as ‘percussions’ on the discovered bones. The previous theory that Thompson is contrasting, suggested that butchery was conducted 3.4 mya. This was proven to be false and inaccurate considering Thompson’s new evidence proves the butchery practices to be dated only 2.6 mya.
Collectivally, only a few hundred thousand years later and we see the drastic encephalization during the evolution of early homonids into the homoerctus and homosapiens. Due to the correlation between the evolution of hominids and the innovative methods of feeding habits and the signs of percussion marks from what is implied to be stone tools, suggests a deeper understanding when comparing it to the concept of cultural evolution. The practices of early hominids with tools resulting in efficiency would signify the confluence during the long period of development.
In further efforts, Thompson and her team analysed the percussions even more to determine the organization, previously stated, they uncovered that it was from stone tools. It is argued by Thompson that these tools played an extensive role in the transitional period of the Pilocene Era. During the Pilocene Era, a drastic change in climate resulted in the spawning vast grasslands and savannas originating from previously thriving rainforest. This made it much easier for apex predators to hunt large animals such as deer, elk, bufalo, bison etc.
This would in turn, result in carcasses scattered throughout the grasslands making it very easy for the hominins to take the leftover bones to a more secluded place where the meat is then harvested. Kemeny also stated in the article that typically to access the marrow within the bones and the brain within the skull, large and blunt rocks were used to smash them open, while carving portions of meat of the bone deemed to be a more difficult task, it is assumed that humans sharpened stones against other stones in order to create what is called a ‘flaked tool’
Furthering the idea that flaked tools were being used by humans at the time, Thompson stated that her graduate students are now extending their application of the identification process of bones using 3D scanning and A.I (Artificial Intelligence). Using technology such as these two methods is proven to yield much more comprehensive and accurate results when determining measurements and the origination of the marks within the bones. Kemeny also stated in the article that despite being a completely valid and supported argument posed by Thompson, many researchers and scholars are not truly convinced. It is currently too early to conduct extensive research on this specific subject due to the lack of fossil and bone evidence to study. The study of fossils and what type of percussion marks are associated with them is important to further understand the evolution from a human standpoint, especially in regards to the drastically critical evolution of tool creation later down the line of history.
Thompson’s insight and development of her new theory regarding the contribution of fat being the main factor of human encephalization is substantial when contrasting it to the previous theory which suggests encephalization occurred from the meat. Thompson and her team’s supporting theories suggest that instead of early hominins consuming meat, they consumed fat within the marrow of the bones and brain in the skull. Not only this, but she had also concluded that blunted and flaked tools were used by early hominins in correlation to their slowly developing eating, hunting, and gathering patterns when in regards to the changing climate during the early hominid periods.
Biocultural is defined as the holistic interaction between biological and cultural aspects that contribute to the everlasting, inevitable biological evolution. Not only does Thompson’s rigorous research conclude that the old theory is inaccurate, it also sparks an intriguing relation between human encephalization and the cultural aspects. Here we can see that not only the holistic environment surrounding the development of hominids is present, but there is also supporting evidence of both the biological and cultural aspects. As the environmental aspects (Warming climate) and biological aspects (Encephalization, predator / prey relationship) slowly over time influenced the hominids cultural gathering and consuming processes to become more efficient which in result developed the human body over time to what it is to this day.
