drastic change in tropical Africa climate and human evolution

[trehinp]

I received an alert on "Newswise" with the catching title : "Change from Arid to Wet Climate in Africa Had Significant Effect on Early Human Evolution"

The original source is to be found on the Syracuse University website news page:Click here for more

I just though this might interest some of you...

Yours sincerely.

Paul Trehin

[lagarvelho]

Paul:

I wonder if there's any evidence that earlier drastic climate changes(droughts, etc), stimulated the migrations of earlier human types?  The article doesn't address this possibility.
Anne G

[trehinp]

Anne,

From what I understood from the article, it is less the change in climate that triggered the evolution than a wetter and stabilized weather for a longer period, enabling the exploitation of a richer natural resource stock and a more predictable environment.

But I agree with you, this press clip is aching for some more in depth analysis.

Since palaeoenvironmental studies aren't in my area of deep interest, I didn't pursue the lead in Syracuse University... Perhaps some other Palanth members will feel more confortable with this domain and will help us to find some additional research reports on this nevertheless interesting hypothesis.

Yours very friendly.

Paul