Fresh Theory On Man

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 5

Fresh Theory On Man

(By

JOHN ALLAN

LONG in (he

“Christian Science Monitor”)

CONTROVERSY is swirling among the world’s anthropologists on the origin of man. Early theories are being jarred by new findings. A core of new evidence comes from Dr. Louis S. B. Leakey, a tall heavy-set, whitehaired British scientist digging in Olduvali Gorge, Tanzania.

He told his colleagues in Chicago recently that he has found the fossil remains of three distinct species of manlike creatures in the same area. Current thinking on the early life of man follows a two-specie theory. One apelike creature, named Zinjanthropus, lived about 1,750.000 years ago. It failed to develop and finally became extinct. Now, George A second line, the homo habilis, passed through several stages of development and eventually became Homo sapiens, or the man of today. Now Dr. Leakey says he has found a third species of man which lived during the same period as the Zinjanthropus and homo habilis. If his theories are true, it could rewrite the textbooks with a complete up-dating of facts. But not all his fellow anthropologists agree with Dr. Leakey’s new findings. The new evidence was shown for the first time at an international conference on the origin of man at the University of Chicago.

It is a small fossil skull, nicknamed George, resembling the Java and Peking man from the Far East. The latter are thought to be extinct cousins of man. George also appears to be the ancestor of another skull found in the Olduvai diggings. Thus, theorises Dr. Leakey, there was actually more than one different species of men developing side by side not just homo habilis. “We must now look at the origin of man with fresh eyes,” argues Dr. Leakey. “There have been too many preconceived ideas masquerading as facts. We must work with an open mind.” Study Of Chimps For instance, says Dr. Leakey, if we have three types of men evolving together, who made and used the small tools found near them? Did Zinjanthropus? Doubtful. He was too ape-like and was not a hunter. Did homo habilis? Yes, certainly, replymost contemporary scientists. He had hands with a grasp approaching that of man. He was a meat eater. But asks Dr. Leakey, how can we be sure it wasn't George, the third'type of man? Furthermore, says Dr. Leakey, recent studies of chimpanzees in the wild state show that they too make tools and teach use of them to their young. “The idea that primitive man was a toolmaker doesn’t work any more "It is thus becoming difficult to relate cultural activities to any one hominid (near-man creatures),” argues Dr Leakey. There was wide disagreement, however, on this point. Dr. John Desmond Clark, of

the University of California, said the study of tools and other cultural aspects is necessary to throw light on life 2,000.000 years ago. Artifacts Found Through new dating techniques—a potassium-argon method —Dr. Leakey dates his oldest fossil skulls of homo habilis at 2,000,000 years old. He has found the remains of home-like structures dating back to this period. And there are indications, he said that the hundreds of artifacts dug up at Olduvai Gorge show three different cultures. If this is true, it may back his three-species theory. Dr. John T. Robinson of the University of Wisconsin is a leading opponent to Dr. Leakey’s new interpretations. He said in rebuttal that he still thinks there were onlytwo types of primitive men. one of which developed to the present day. George, he says, is merely a member of the homo habilis family tree. He said he is too close to primitive fossils found elsewhere to merit new names of new species. Rebuttal Offered Dr. Robinson's main argument against the new third type is based on competition among the species. Zinjanthropus died out because it could not compete with homo habilis, who was a hunter. Any third or fourth species would also have lost out to the stronger creature, he says. “I don’t see how there can be two lines of man adapting and developing in such complex circumstances of toolmaking, hunting, and changing from vegetarian to meateating diet,” says Dr. Robinson.