Human Ancestors Likely Had Human Hand-Like Abilities
- 10 years ago
Researchers studied the 3.2 million year old hand bones of human ancestor Australopithecus africanus and found that the structure supports the existence of pinch gripping and precision, both necessary and a possible indication of stone tool usage.
Human-like hands, meaning hands with opposable thumbs and precision-pinch grips, may have existed before the Homo species of humans.
A team of scientists, led by paleoanthropologist Matthew Skinner from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, studied the hand bone structures of approximately 3 million to 2 million-year old Australopithecus africanus and other Pleistocene hominins.
Australopithecus were both human and ape-like, able to walk upright but climb trees with their longer arms.
Researchers found the bone pattern in the hand structure to be able to sustain a squeezing grip and precision, which were key to early human success.
These two capabilities have also been shown in previous studies to be integral in making and usi
Human-like hands, meaning hands with opposable thumbs and precision-pinch grips, may have existed before the Homo species of humans.
A team of scientists, led by paleoanthropologist Matthew Skinner from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, studied the hand bone structures of approximately 3 million to 2 million-year old Australopithecus africanus and other Pleistocene hominins.
Australopithecus were both human and ape-like, able to walk upright but climb trees with their longer arms.
Researchers found the bone pattern in the hand structure to be able to sustain a squeezing grip and precision, which were key to early human success.
These two capabilities have also been shown in previous studies to be integral in making and usi