According to some recent studies, the theory of evolution may just be that, with findings that our male ancestors were actually our physical superiors.
The concept of evolution details that over time the world has changed and so have the species that inhabit the planet.
Humans as a species are an absolute baby in the grand timeline of history, with some records dating that the earth’s origins can be traced back an astonishing 4.5 billion years. Modern day geologists and geophysicists have determined this with radiometric age dating of numerous substances, including lunar samples and mineral deposits around the world.
In this time the world has seen some periods and ages that too many would seem an absolute fantasy.
Considering that the planet earth has seen five extinction based events (events that destroyed a huge number of species and most life on the planet) going back as far as approximately 550 million years ago, the world as we know it today is essentially just a period in a massive time line of history. Nearly 99 percent of all species that have ever lived on the earth are extinct!
For the record the last extinction event is classified as the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, which happened 65.5 million years ago and rendered the dinosaurs destroyed.
Our ancient ancestors, the genus (which classifies a living organism) of homo, can be traced back as far as 2.5 million years. This is in line with the early evidence of stone tools and classifies the beginning of what is referred to as the Lower Paleolithic age – the time when are most ancient ancestors lived.
All of these species of Homo are now extinct, except for Homo sapiens, which is what we all are. Our oldest relative is thought to be the Homo Neanderthalensis, which was thought to have died out between 20,000 and 24,000 years ago.
Some evidence suggests that another species (relative!) called the Homo Floresiensis; oddly nicknamed by some scientists as “Hobbit” because of their small size, may have lived as recently as 12,000 years ago.
But while we believe we are getting faster and stronger, thanks to modern science and the exploits of runners and swimmers breaking more and more records, and certain strongmen, such as bodybuilders, being bigger and stronger than ever before; it appears that we are at the ass end of evolution.
Research suggests that we would have stood no chance against our ancestors in a classic battle of physical power or speed.
While we do have more resources and science to enable us in theory to become a specimen unlike anything ever seen, we are a society that has become more dormant than any other in recent memory.
Peter McAllister, the author of Manthropology: the Science of Inadequate Modern Man, has come up with hard evidence of our ancestor’s superior physical attributes.
Analysing sets of foot prints preserved in a fossilised lake bed, conclusion has been reached that Australian aboriginals 20,000 years ago, which was a period shift for Homo, reached speeds of 23 mph.
To put this in perspective, Usain Bolt, who carries the illustrious tag of being the fastest man on the planet, reached a top speed of 26 mph during his Beijing Olympics gold medal winning performance.
He ran 100 metres in 9.69 seconds.
McAllister claims that with modern training and science, our ancestors could reach speeds of up to 28 or even 30mph.
The same conclusions are met in regards to muscle mass and strength.
The reality is that muscle conditioning is a by product of constant physical activity, something that most people lack to the point of it being a pandemic in some countries.
To really sum up his point, McAllister - a noted anthropologist - writes in the opening pages of his book a statement which really is a scathing attack on the modern man.
"If you're reading this then you – or the male you have bought it for – are the worst man in history. No ifs, no buts – the worst man, period.”
He says the reason is the level of inactivity, even when comparing us with people decades ago.
“At the start of the industrial revolution there are statistics about how much harder people worked then. The human body is very plastic, and it responds to stress.”
"We have lost 40 per cent of the shafts of our long bones, because we have much less of a muscular load placed upon them these days.”
Realistically these findings are probably not a great surprise despite modern athletes being stronger and faster, but beyond these hard training specimens, for the bulk of the population, it is a damning find.
Motivation to go for a run now perhaps cave people?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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1 comments:
This is so interesting and so true, when we think of evolution and our ancestors we think of how we have evolved with regards to brain development but very rarely would we think of how we've declined with regards to physical development. Nice one, love your writing style.
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