Hello everyone, welcome back to the Explora Natura blog. Today we continue with the series on prehistoric man, In this case, we're going to look at some interesting facts about primitive man.
The intrinsic uniqueness of humankind is evident across all cultures and histories. All written records reflect this consensus, including evolutionary publications.
The evolution of early humans differs from that of all other animals in many ways, such as their permanently upright posture, the size and function of their brains, and their way of life in societies. They are also the only creatures capable of conscious action, of working and producing, and of controlling nature itself for a useful purpose.
Man's capacity to create a secondary environment through his culture has separated him from other animals, altered his conditions and himself through continuous, purposeful, and consciously directed activity; this ultimately led to the highest forms of science, art, culture, and civilization.
The same text offers basic data showing the main anatomical features that differentiate man from all other animals:
- In humans, the cranial portion of the head is larger than the facial portion, and the upper part of the brain forms a prominent forehead. The jaw is short and horseshoe-shaped, with no spaces for the canines; the canines are incisors, do not project beyond the other teeth, and show only minor size differences related to sex. The premolars are grinding teeth, and the third premolar in particular has lost all trace of its primitive cutting function. The eyes are capable of seeing in both black and white and color. The outer part of the ear ends in a lobe and has a curled edge. The nasal bones project from the face and fit together like a roof. The mucous membrane covers the outside of the lips for a considerable distance, and the upper lip has a groove down the center.
- The human brain is several times larger than that of great apes and, relative to body weight, is heavier. The formation of a large number of convolutions has increased the brain's surface area to about two square meters; and the structure of brain tissue is also more complex.
- The spine has two S-shaped curves, and is adapted to an upright posture.
- The pelvis is wide and carries the entire weight of the trunk, distributing the pressure over the lower limbs.
- The arms are mobile and lack the weight-bearing specialization found in great apes. Freeing the arms from their locomotor function makes them available for other uses, initially probably for gathering and transporting food, but later for the full range of human activities. The human hand has a well-developed thumb, very large in relation to the fingers, and the hand is adapted for grasping objects with great precision.
- The legs are very long in relation to the torso and are adapted to support the entire weight of the body. The foot has longitudinal and lateral arches to cushion the impact on the ground. Much of the stress during walking is borne by the big toe, which in humans is not divergent but parallel to the other toes. It is also by far the strongest of the five toes.
This list can be summarized in two main characteristics that are unique to man: his large skull and brain size, with all its related traits, and the fact that he walks upright on two legs.
Humankind's exceptional position in nature and the differences between humans and animals are also due to other developments in the human brain. Humans do not see better than birds, and many species surpass them in speed, strength, hearing, and sense of smell. However, unlike animals, humans can live in any climate and environment, penetrate the Earth's depths, climb the highest mountains, and venture into space; they have mastered the use of fire and learned all about the atom and how to control it—all thanks to the development of their brains and the use of their hands.
Since the dawn of humankind, its most important and meaningful activity has been work—that is, activity with a specific goal, something that doesn't exist among animals. Work has been the true prerogative of the human race since prehistory.
Most animal activities are instinctive (although some can be learned), but only man consciously alters his work to adapt it to his needs and at the same time alters his physical and mental activity and becomes master of his environment.
Animals influence nature simply by existing within it, for example, by moving through it and living off its resources, but humans, through their labor, have a much greater effect on nature and leave behind traces of their activities. When animals die, nature remains essentially unchanged, whereas each human generation leaves behind concrete reminders of its labor.
Interesting facts about ancient "primitive" man«
It is this intrinsic uniqueness of humankind that is of vital interest to us. After more than a century of attempts by all our modern educational institutions to create a bridge between humans and lower primates, humans remain unique in all environments, primitive or advanced.
NF Ashley Montagu reveals that "primitive" man is not essentially different from the sophisticated human cultures that evolved later. A high level of skill is evident in much of his drawing, carving, weaving, and pottery. A complex and subtle rhythmic structure accompanies his music, though we may not perceive it because our ears are attuned to our own concepts of melody and harmony.
The sophistication of the culture of Stone Age people who lived several thousand years ago compares favorably with that of many advanced "primitive" tribes today. In these cultures, as in all living human cultures, there is a dominant belief in the supernatural and in life after death.
Using appropriate testing procedures, it has been found that the intelligence of present-day primitive peoples is close to our own. Anthropologists agree that this intelligence, along with the presence of human culture, distinguishes humans from all other animals.
It is primarily linguistic intelligence that is given priority. Linguistic communication skills mark a higher level of intelligence even within the most advanced civilizations. "The fact is that many 'primitive' languages are no more primitive than most of the rest of the culture; in fact, they are often far more complex and efficient than the languages of so-called advanced civilizations.".
The skills of ancient primitive man have recently been the subject of a practical examination. According to a report by the Science magazine Since January 10, 1986, archaeologist Nicholas Toth has been examining and replicating ancient man's tools. His search led him to the oldest known ancient man tool sites. These sites in East Africa are typically dated to two million years ago.
After examining the flakes and cores, Toth began studying the details of the chips themselves, which still show the patterns of the blows that created them. The archaeologist then began chipping his own tools to understand how these ancient tools were made.
He then observed that the man of "two million years ago" skillfully created a range of tools that are "indistinguishable" from those at sites half a million years younger, by evolutionary dating methods. Even sites that are only "10,000 years old," "clearly...the products of modern humans," show no greater imposition of arbitrary form than the "two-million-year-old" sites. Toth describes the ancestors of the "two-million-year-old" man as far more advanced and intelligent than previously thought. The pattern of their working, manufacturing, and wear of stone tools leads Toth to conclude that early humans operated with a considerable amount of planning and skill.
Antonio Pestana
Antonio Jesús Pestana Salido (Cabra, Córdoba, 1970) es ornitólogo y fotógrafo de naturaleza andaluz, especializado en aves y en la interpretación del paisaje mediterráneo. Desde niño ha estado vinculado al estudio y observación de la fauna, y lleva décadas recorriendo los espacios naturales de Andalucía, especialmente la Subbética cordobesa.
Es fotógrafo de naturaleza premiado a nivel nacional, ganador del primer premio del concurso de fotografía de naturaleza Carl Zeiss (IV edición) con una imagen de digiscoping de piquituerto común, además de otros reconocimientos en concursos especializados de fotografía de aves.
Como ornitólogo de campo ha participado en proyectos de seguimiento y conservación de aves, especialmente rapaces y aves esteparias, y ha sido coordinador provincial en Córdoba de los censos de aguilucho pálido y aguilucho cenizo. También es presidente de la asociación naturalista Abanto, dedicada a la divulgación y conservación del patrimonio natural.
Es autor de varios libros sobre fauna ibérica y cultura popular publicados por editoriales especializadas, entre ellos “Las aves ibéricas en la cultura popular” y “Las rapaces diurnas ibéricas en la cultura popular”, obras que recopilan refranes, creencias y tradiciones relacionadas con las aves en la cultura popular.
Además de su trabajo como autor y fotógrafo, desarrolla actividades de divulgación y educación ambiental, guiando salidas de naturaleza, impartiendo talleres de fotografía de aves y colaborando con centros educativos, asociaciones y proyectos de turismo de naturaleza.
She regularly works with schools, designing wildlife observation activities adapted for primary and secondary school students. She also collaborates with companies and associations on birdwatching tours, teaches nature photography courses, and participates in the design of natural areas.
