Aquatic ape theory, speech origins, and brain differences with apes and monkeys article pdf available in medical hypotheses 445. It has some supporting evidence or, rather, it isnt definitively contradicted by the evidence that there is. As we will document, aat has as many or more problems than st, but it does effectively document the many shortcomings of the savannah hypothesis. Jan 03, 2011 elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. The aquatic ape theory aat is one of the more successful alternatives to orthodox human evolution theory. I have one introlevel college anthropology course behind me and even i can tell the theory is reaching. Last week the aquatic ape idea was gently lampooned by the hypothesis that humans evolved in space see kate wongs summary. To merge pdfs or just to add a page to a pdf you usually have to buy expensive software. Pachtersdreef 3, 2870 putte, belgium abstract iluch more than other primates, man has several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. One such idea is the aquatic ape hypothesis aah which attempts to explain a number of human adaptations with the single explanation of a semiaquatic ancestor. Sep 26, 2008 a 5 minute explanation of a new approach towards evolution. I can see two possible future scenarios for the aquatic ape theory. Proponents of the aquatic ape theory compare the predictions of their model with the predictions that they derive for a traditionalist model, which they term the.
Few things show the distinctiveness of human evolution research better than the aquatic ape hypothesis aah. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat proposes an alternative view of hominin evolution. Apr 11, 2020 this is known as the aquatic ape theory hypothesis. Common misconceptions and unproven assumptions about the socalled aquatic ape hypothesis article pdf available in human evolution 28. Common misconceptions and unproven assumptions about the socalled aquatic ape hypothesis. Addressing the accuracy of the aquatic ape hypothesis 12. The aquatic ape hypothesis by elaine morgan, paperback. So finally, in what he thinks is a clincher to his longheld theory, hardy offers the diving reflex, but for something which he feels is a powerful vindication of his theory, he seems to have done astonishingly little research about it. In presenting her case elaine morgan forces scientists to question accepted theories of human evolution, while expressing complex ideas for the general reader in a clear and accessible style.
Much more than other primates, man has several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. Pdf have we already tested the aquatic ape hypothesis. Download and install the soda pdf desktop app to edit, compress, split, secure and merge pdf files offline. The savannah theory postulates that the evolution from ape to hominid. You have to examine the aquatic ape hypothesis aah of hardy and morgan. Humans differ from apes in a surprising number of ways.
Im going to call it that today because thats what its creators named it, but do note that nothing has ever been done in anthropology that could conceivably elevate the aquatic ape. The aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. The joining of this unique proclivity to our ancestors advanced. These cartoonish representations of macho cave men were part of what attracted some feminists to the aquatic ape theory, often abbreviated aat, or the aquatic ape hypothesis. Select multiple pdf files and merge them in seconds. Key proponents of aat aquatic ape theory hypothesis.
Umbrella hypotheses and parsimony in human evolution. May 07, 20 last week the aquatic ape idea was gently lampooned by the hypothesis that humans evolved in space see kate wongs summary. Plankton is one of the basic components of the marine food chain, and his work was very important to the british fishing industry, not to mention everybody elses. One specific example given by elaine morgan in the aquatic ape 1997 is the proboscis monkey which swims in. A documentary by sir david attenborough, the waterside ape, is based on morgans aquatic ape hypothesis. A challenge to langdons 1997 critique of the aquatic ape hypothesis has still not been published despite the paper appearing to have a number of weaknesses which deserve a response. Nov 01, 1982 the aquatic ape hypothesis is one such. By dragging your pages in the editor area you can rearrange them or delete single pages. The argument for the aquatic ape theory was based mainly on facts of comparative anatomy. In discussions of human origins invariably rest on rather shaky foundations. May, 20 elaine morgan and the aquatic ape the history of the aquatic ape may tell us more about the fraught relationship between feminism and science than it does about the evolution of humanity.
The hypothesis was initially proposed by the marine biologist alister hardy in 1960, who argued that a branch of apes was forced by. Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests that early hominids lived in water at least part of the time. The aquatic ape theory aka aat or aah ill generally use the term aath on this site hypothesizes that humans went through an aquatic or semi aquatic stage in our evolution, generally said to have occurred during the transition from the last common ancestor we shared with apes lca to hominids although some aath proponents claim it continued on. Apr 29, 2017 the waterside hypothesis requires a rethinking of human evolution.
Elaine morgan obe, frsl was a welsh writer for television and the author of several books on evolutionary anthropology, especially the aquatic ape hypothesis which she advocated as a corrective to. Apr 28, 20 you may have noticed some coverage in the press recently about the aquatic ape hypothesis aah, sparked by a conference on the topic due to be held in may if youre not familiar with the aah it basically suggests that human ancestors passed through a semiaquatic stage which provided the selective pressure that has led to the differences seen between humans and other primates. What is the aquatic ape hypothesis and why is it largely. The aquatic ape hypothesis is a theory that, at some point in the past several million years ago, the ancestors of homo sapiens lived on the seashore and spent enough time in the water that their bodies developed a number of adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle, which remain with us today and separate us from many other primates. The aquatic environment selected for a major change in the architecture of our pelvis. One specific example given by elaine morgan in the aquatic ape 1997 is the proboscis monkey which swims in a dog paddle manner. It provides a sensible explanation for why human beings, while genetically similar to apes, possess so many different physical features, and how these physical adaptations could have come into being. But that doesnt mean aquatic habitats didnt play some. I did check the wiki, and the aah quite honestly seems ridiculous just from the start. He incorrectly says is only found in humans and aquatic animals. Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution. The aquatic ape theory proposes that such an aquatic phase, during which ancestral hominids relied on a water habitat, explains much of the distinctive anatomy of recent humans. The aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. Evidence included the benefits of zero gravity which is why we all.
In 1967, the hypothesis was briefly mentioned in the naked ape, a book by desmond morris 1928 in which can be found the first use of the term aquatic ape. Chapter four the aquatic ape theory mermaids are real. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic. Elaine morgan and the aquatic ape erika lorraine milam. We did, and found an environment suited to a bipedal ape. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory. In the program, they interview free diver sara campell who went from a total beginner to a. Pdf the idea that people went through an aquatic phase at some time in their evolutionary past is currently undergoing a popular resurgence. New statesman, successfully publishing, then joining the bbc when they began to produce her plays for television. Some ignore it, some ridicule it, some are convinced that its the truth and some have never heard of it. Apr 11, 20 the aquatic ape theory suggests that when our ancestors moved onto the savanna they were already different from apes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
In a 2016 september bbc radio program titled the waterside ape, sir david attenbourough presents new evidence for the waterside theory that have been published in recent years. According to its proponents, our ancient ancestors would have spent a great deal of time in the water, perhaps the majority of the day, and would have begun to exhibit certain evolutionary adaptations to this lifestyle. An assessment of the mislabelled aquatic ape hypothesis is summarised. The features distinguishing them are far more varied than the features dividing other pairs of species which are so closely genetically related. The aquatic ape theory graham hancock official website. It suggests that the significant loss of body hair, bipedalism, and other characteristics evolved some time earlier in an aquatic or semi aquatic environment, when the human and ape lines first diverged. Proponents use incorrect facts and logical fallacies such as straw men, appeals to authority, and false comparison in their arguments. As a result, the aah website is considerably biased and outdated, relying chiefly on the 1987 valkenburg conference roede et al.
The aquatic ape theory or aquatic ape hypothesis has been in the air for decades now. Most credible theory of human evolution new ed by morgan, elaine isbn. The hypothesis was met with so much criticism that its not even mentioned in human evolution textbooks. The aquatic ape theory is highly controversial to say the least. In the decades since, morgans aquatic ape hypothesis has gained widespread support.
It had done so before for many aquatic mammals, but none of them had returned to live on the land. Recent proponents of the aquatic ape hypothesis have pointed to much later watery adaptations, including early archaeological sites where humans. Pdf merge combine pdf files free tool to merge pdf online. This idea was attacked at first by scientists, but the book became an international bestseller. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah 1787 words 123 help me. A new aquatic ape theory science smithsonian magazine. The aquatic ape theory is at least a reasonable hypothesis, if not a fully acceptable scientific theory. It was williams who first coined the term aquarboreal to describe a wadingclimbing component to the locomotor repertoire, used by verhaegen et al. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat is the idea that ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than those of. Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. While some paleoanthropologists remain skeptical, data from diverse biological and anthropological disciplines leave little doubt that human ancestors were at some point in our past semi aquatic.
Her persistence paid off as the aquatic ape theory began to be discussed in scientific journals, but her success meant that she was open to attack. The theory has also been the subject of at least two ph. The aquatic ape hypothesis basically states that there are some holes in our current understanding of human evolution specifically, some physical traits that humans have dont make sense according to current theory, these traits are similar to those found in marine mammals, therefore humans had a recent aquatic ancestor known as the. The aquatic ape idea is at best a hypothesis, and most of its critics refer to it as a hypothesis. Nov 26, 2010 so she continued to write and publish four more books on the theory, called the aquatic ape, the descent of the child, the aquatic ape hypothesis and the scars of evolution. He first encountered the aquatic ape hypothesis in 1970 when he read morris the naked ape and became a proponent from 1973 after he encountered elaine morgans the descent of woman. The aquatic ape hypothesis is widely dismissed by the scientific community. Only proponents of the aquaticwaterside hypotheses collectively known as the aquatic ape hypothesis or aah seem to maintain that it is. Apr 23, 2012 addressing the accuracy of the aquatic ape hypothesis 12. May 20, 2017 the aquatic ape theory suggest that the main reason why we differ from gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos which all share a common ancestor with us is that humans adapted to live in aquatic environments, while apes did not. Also, you can add more pdfs to combine them and merge them into one single document. Elaine morgan and the aquatic ape the history of the aquatic ape may tell us more about the fraught relationship between feminism and science than it does about the evolution of humanity. What is the aquatic ape hypothesis and why is it largely dismissed. How scientists perceive the evolutionary origin of human traits.
The hypothesis is troubled by inconsistencies and has not been reconciled with the fossil record. This essay explores one example of these models, the aquatic ape hypothesis, the proponents of which continue to argue that they have not received a fair hearing among anthropologists. Sir alister hardys aquatic hypothesis stated in the words of the only three accounts he. Alister hardy sir alister hardy was a marine biologist who specialized in the study of plankton and dont even think of laughing.
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