After Moody: Fossielen (1984)

After Wolf/Burian: Mensen uit de oertijd (1979)

This is a possible family tree of the hominids. In reality it is certainly much more complicated. H. means Homo or man. A. means Australopithecus which is a genus of upright walking apes. The latter died out long ago. Homo habilis is the oldest species of the genus Homo. It made already very primitive stone tools. Homo erectus lived much later and had many more abilities. It produced better stone tools and also used the fire already. The Neanderthal man and modern man (Homo sapiens) lived at the same time but the way in which they got on with each other is not known. The Neanderthals were adapted to the severe cold of the ice age. They went extinct about 25.000 years ago. Homo sapiens probably came into existence somewhere in Africa about 200.000 years ago. Only about 50.000 years ago he entered western Europe. Especially in France many vestiges of this man of old has been found such as the beautiful cave paintings, little sculptures and skilfully made stone tools. He is called Cro-Magnon man. Know more? Homo erectus Cro-Magnon 1

It is not known why the brain has developed so strongly in Homo sapiens. Yet there are several theories on this subject. One of them says that this evolution is a consequence of the fact that communication was such an important condition for survival. During the evolution of speech the larynx has risen which made the producing of different sounds easier. This was very important for keeping contact in a dangerous world. This communication could have been the main factor in the evolution of a bigger and more complex brain. This development, gradually leading to language and speech, will also have strengthened the connections inside the group. Next phase was the appearence of religion and art. Religion had a uniting function and made the group stronger in the struggle with other tribes. Art will have had a ceremonial function. Know more? Cave painting

Evolution 40

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