Learning with Granny!
Show and Tell
"What are you girls doing?" asked Granny,
arriving home from town to see books scattered all around the lounge.
"We're making a list of all the books we are using
on our 'Trip through Time' that tell us about hominids" answered Ann.
"The boys are writing down some sites on the
internet and finding information about Palaeontologists and their fossils
finds" added Terry. "I'm looking for all the nice pictures and marking
them with these old computer paper edges" concluded Margie from her
position on the carpet.
"Well I'll leave you all to it and unpack the
groceries" said Granny walking away with a smile on her face.
 Let's
have a look at some of the books the girls are sorting through. Enter the
picture on the right for a larger image and list of Granny's
favourites.
 Granny
had packed her shopping away and was relaxing in the garden with a cup of tea
when Margie shouted to her through the window. 'Come and see Granny - it's 'Show
and Tell time'
When she went inside, this is what she saw. Enter the picture on the right for
the full image.
Terry and Ann read out from notes they had made and
Margie showed off the pictures in the books she had marked. Lee and Vinny found
the websites that gave more information and good graphics on some of the
different groups of hominids.
Australopithecines
(genus: Australopithecus) are among the earliest fossil ancestors who
showed signs of being 'human like.' They had small, chimp-sized brains they had
inherited from the 'common ancestor' of humans and other great apes, but they
walked on their hind legs much like we do. Although their arms were longer than
ours, their teeth were much like ours. This group lived between 4 and 2 million
years ago (MYA). Australopithecine fossils have been found throughout eastern
and southern Africa.
Australopithecus
robustus lived
from over 2 MYA up to about 1 MYA in the Southern part of Africa. These
australopithecines are specially adapted for chewing tough, fibrous foods, as
seen in their big molar teeth. This group co-existed with Homo habilis and early
Homo  erectus.
Terry
stopped reading and Vinny showed everyone the skull of an A. robustus.
Enter the picture on the right for a larger image and then visit this link
for more information.
Homo habilis appeared
about 2.5 MYA. This name means 'handy man' because researchers have long thought
that these hominids were the first to make tools. Just think of how important
tools are the next time you peel an orange or cut a slice of bread or dig a hole
in the garden to plant something! Homo habilis
was taller than the earlier hominids in Africa, and fossil evidence of skulls
show his group had larger brains.
Homo erectus
appeared about 1.8 MYA. This group is named for the erect way they could stand.
He was a true hunter and had better, more sophisticated tools than Homo
habilis. He was also the first to control fire and use it to his advantage.
Some from this group were the first to leave the African continent and travel
overland to neighbouring continents, such as Asia.
Archaic Homo sapiens
- these 'wise men' like the Neanderthals in Europe were able to make clothes for
themselves. They were skilled at making tools and they displayed signs of
compassion. They cared for their sick and old and buried their dead.
Modern humans (Homo
sapiens sapiens) appear in South Africa around
100,000 years ago, although molecular evidence suggests that they appeared even
earlier. These modern, thinking ancestors were skilled in hunting. They
fashioned bows and arrows, built comfortable huts in which to shelter themselves
from the heat and the cold. They made jewellery, tools, cooking utensils using
various materials that were available - ivory clay stone etc. They probably did
a lot with wood, but this does not last so the records are scarce. One lasting
piece of evidence of their skill is their rock art, which we will learn about as
we journey up Africa and continue our trip through Time following 'Man's
Migrations and Memories.'
Vinny got a picture of a fossil skull on the computer
screen and Lee wrote some of the links down so they could go back to the
sites as they learnt more about the interesting past of hominids.
For an in-depth look at the hominid species visit
* http://www.archaeologyinfo.com/evolution.htm
* (A. Robustus pic from here)
The Earliest Human Ancestors: New Finds, New Interpretations
http://www.cradleofhumankind.co.za
http://www.ecotao.com/holism/huevo.htm
http://www.nfi.org.za/palaeo/millennium_sundial.htm
Margie brought a book to Granny. "Please tell us
about Lucy" she asked. "There was a song about 'her' wasn't
there?" asked Terry.
"She was named after the song by The Beatles" said Lee. "Sing it
for us Lee" begged Margie. "I don't know it" he replied. "Do
you know it Granny?" asked Ann.
"I can't remember the words - but I'll have a
go"
Lucy
Found Nov. 1974 at Hadar Ethiopia
(with apologies to The Beatles)
Picture yourself at a 'dig' in Hadar
Sun beating down and the dust on your shoes.
Somebody calls you - after searching in vain
What you find brings relief like cool rain.
In the dust you find 'diamonds' - or could it be
'gold?'
No - the bones of a girl with a story untold.
You carry them gently to the camp near the fountain
Try though you may, your joy you can't contain
Everyone toasts 'her' and spirits are high
The transistor blares out 'Lucy in the Sky'
Later more searching for pieces of puzzle
Reveal hundreds of fragments of bone
The girls with the kaleidoscope eyes had no trouble
Lucy stood up and reached for the sky on her own.
They labelled her Australopithecus afarensis
People come to see her from near and afar
Lucy could be called the first 'lady' of Africa
Her claim to fame - she's a three million year old 'star'
--------------------
J.L. Marais Nov. 2002
Next Month...
Next month we will go on a trip and learn more about
early human ancestors in Africa.
If you would like to e-mail Granny
your questions and ideas please do so at granny@scienceinafrica.co.za
Until Next Month, Happy Reading!
Granny Jenny
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