Why Human ancestors walked upright?

Recent research on the history of human ancestors challenge traditional evolutionary theory. Archaeologists University of York in England say the origins of the human ability to walk upright is triggered by conditions in the rugged landscape of southern and eastern Africa. Not because climate change is to reduce the population down trees and make them into the ground.

New research challenges evolutionary theories behind the development of our earliest ancestors from tree dwelling quadrupeds to upright bipeds capable of walking and scrambling. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

The study entitled "Complex Topography and Human Evolution: The Missing Link" was conducted jointly by researchers from the Institut de Physique du Globe in Paris, France. The research results are then published in this week's edition of the Antiquity journal.

This research reveals the causes significant changes from the first human ancestors walked on four legs and inhabit trees became bipedal creature who walks upright. They better look at the landscape and rocky ravine in southern and eastern Africa, which formed during the Pliocene by volcanoes and shifting tectonic plates.

Apparently, a hominin ancestors of early humans, are more interested in staying in that area. Understandably, the region offers protection and opportunity to trap prey. But living in this area requires an upright posture in order to facilitate their prey scrambling and rock climbing. "It is encouraging the emergence of bipedalism," the archaeologists wrote.

Why did humans decide to walk on two feet? Good question--and now we may have an answer. Researchers may have discovered how our earliest ancestors developed the ability to walk upright instead of dwelling in trees. (Picture from: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/)

Isabelle Winder, one of the researchers from the Department of Archaeology at York, said the study shows bipedalism has been developed in response to habitat conditions rather than climate-induced vegetation change.

"Hard habitat is proven to motivates the hominin locomotion to improve their skills in climbing, balancing, scrambling, and move quickly on the broken ground," said Winder. It was all a kind of movement that encourages progress of our human ancestors to walked upright.

This study also shows that the hand and arm hominin to walk upright then allowed to move freely. It aims to develop manual dexterity and adaptation using the tools, supports an important step in the continuation of the story of human evolution.

Further development of the framework and enables early human legs can run, which was adapted for prey and shelter in the flat landscape. (Jump to related article.) *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4243]

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