Perspectives
Connecting definition ‘intermediates’ between the Earlier anamensis finds two species. It is all based on the as- It was in 1995 that dental, cranial imaginary human sumption of evolution and the alleged and postcranial specimens from two evolution dots: age-date of the fossil. It is in fact separate localities in Kenya, dated difficult to see how anyone can argue from about 3.8 to 4.2 Ma ago, were an- the case of on the basis of the morphology of the nounced as belonging to a new hominid fossil scraps themselves that they are a species Au. anamensis.11 Most of the Australopithecus link between afarensis and ramidus. fossil scraps undoubtedly came from anamensis It is important to note that some evo- an ape, such as the chimp-like jaws, lutionists have attributed earlier finds but controversy has surrounded the al- Peter Line of anamensis to the existing species legedly more human-like nature of the afarensis,8 and the simplest explana- tibia and humerus.12 The anamensis n the seemingly endless bombard- tion may be that the latest finds labelled humerus lacks a deep, oval hollow, Iment of ‘human evolution’ anamensis simply represent within- used as a locking mechanism between propaganda, the latest headlines to species variation of afarensis. the humerus and ulna, which is present grab attention boast: ‘Fossil connects Probably the most significant find in chimpanzees, but not in humans. human evolution dots’,1 and ‘Fossils by the researchers is the Asa Issie right And the anamensis tibia is wide, as fill gap in human lineage’.2 The femoral shaft (ASI-VP-5/154), which in humans, because of extra spongy tissue, which acts as a shock absorber above headlines are in response to a they characterize as being morphologi- during bipedal locomotion.13 paper recently published in Nature3 cally similar to the left proximal femur 9 At the time of publication, pale- about allegedly 4.1 to 4.2 Ma-old of AL 288-1 (Lucy). They later refer to a character of the Asa Issie femur ontologist Peter Andrews suggested Australopithecus anamensis fossils. that the tibia and humerus, coming (the ‘minimal linea aspera’—related These were discovered in the Middle from different sections (upper level) to the distance between ridges of the Awash region of Ethiopia, with of the Kanapoi locality strata than the the first author being well-known adductor attachments at the shaft’s ‘primitive’ jaws and teeth (lower level), paleoanthropologist Tim D. White, midpoint) as being ‘on the presum- might possibly ‘be related to humans who is associated with a series of grand ably primitive end of the considerable and the other to apes’.14 There were 10 claims based on scant evidence.4,5 range of variation in Au. afarensis’. some mandible fragments (KNM-KP Readers anticipating a ‘jaw-dropping’ Of course, the applicability of the word 29287) found in upper level strata, but find with the new claims will also find ‘primitive’ is assumed, not proved. these were from a different (higher) that the latest fossil scraps on offer will But notice that in this statement is an level than the tibia (KNM-KP 29285) 15 disappoint. admission that this bone indeed falls and humerus (KNM-KP 271). At within the afarensis range. the time there was also the problem Assumption of evolution Another fossil piece, a maxilla with of several hundred thousand years in dentition (ARA-VP-14/1) is said to evolutionary time between the upper The fossil bones included some be ‘slightly smaller but anatomically and lower levels, but in a later paper craniodental remains, a femur, a meta- similar in preserved parts to the further ‘dates’ were obtained that nar- tarsal shaft without ends, an eroded KNM-KP (Kenya National Museums, rowed the time gap.16 distal foot phalanx, and an intermedi- Kanapoi site) 29283 Au. anamensis In this later article additional finds ate hand phalanx, belonging to at least paratype’.9 of fossil scraps from anamensis were eight individuals, with the finds coming The authors also discuss reported, but no additional evidence from two locations about 10 km apart enamel thickness and state that the was provided to associate them with (see figure 1).6 White and colleagues molar enamel thicknesses of the new the tibia and humerus. Also, the 2000 claim that specimens were comparable to previ- analysis of a fossil radius (KNM-ER 20419) from the other anamensis loca- ‘the 4.1-million-year-old fossils ous anamensis specimens, and also tion, Allia Bay, indicated ‘specialized were anatomically intermediate that the enamel thickness of anamen- wrist morphology associated with between the earlier species sis was close to that of afarensis in knuckle-walking’.17 Ardipithecus ramidus and the later 10 some regions. However, in terms of In a paper co-authored by Meave species Australopithecus afarensis, comparison to other alleged species, 7 Leakey, anamensis is said to be very the Lucy family.’ such as afarensis and ramidus, one like afarensis postcranially, with the However, it is not so much the cannot read too much into differences humerus, tibia and radius ‘almost ex- anatomy, but more the timing—that in enamel thickness given that, as the actly matched in size and morphology is, they have found something dated authors indicate, ‘considerable within- to the A. afarensis collections from between Ardipithecus ramidus and species variation is currently being Hadar’.18 Now that you have a femur Australopithecis afarensis finds, and documented in modern human and ape which is also morphologically similar so to them this makes the fossils by control samples’.10 to afarensis, the argument is strong
JOURNAL OF CREATION 20(2) 2006 Perspectives
Figure 1. This is the main body of evidence that caused all the ‘evolutionary excitement’. The fossils in the picture comprise six teeth (a), a fragmented maxilla with dentition (b) and part of a right femur (d). Those marked with * are of A. afarensis, and those marked # are of A. anamensis for comparison. The maxilla (b) was found 10 km from the other fossils. (After White et al.3) that afarensis and anamensis are the References 11. Leakey, M.G., Feibel, C.S., McDougall, I. and Walker, A., New four-million-year-old same species. In any case, at most 1. Fossil connects human evolution dots, 12 hominid species from Kanapoi and Allia Bay, you have an ape-like creature with a April 2006,
JOURNAL OF CREATION 20(2) 2006