Monthly Archives: May 2017

In 1944, German soldiersconstructing a bunker in Greece uncovered afossilized jawbone. The specimen was in poor shape, just a curve of mandible with its teeth mostly chipped away. It was considered to be a specimen that nobody really knew what to do with, said paleobiologist David R. Begun,a professor at the University of Toronto. But a new analysis of this broken jaw revealed that the bone is about7 million years old. The jawalso has some humanlike characteristics, he says.

Begun and his colleagues say the fossil could represent the oldest known human ancestor. They further suggest that the fossil means our ancestors diverged from apes in Southern Europe not Africa.

Both are bold and highly disputed claims. But the fossil itself is a rare specimen ofan ape from around the time of the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans.

Ina pair of reportspublished Monday in the journal PLOS One, the scientists describe the fossil and the possible savanna environment in which the specieslived. Theresearchers claim that the Eastern Mediterranean could just as likely be the location of ape and human diversification, as well as human ancestororigins, as tropical Africa.

Other experts on human prehistory disagree, pointing to extensive fossil evidence that hominins, meaning non-ape humans and their ancestors, originated in Africa and migrated north.

David Begun has repeatedly proposed that the African ape and human clade arose in Europe and that gorillas, chimps and humans arose from an early European member of this group that migrated into Africa, said Jay Kelley, a paleontologist at Arizona State University's Institute of Human Origins. This 'back into Africa' scenario has garnered few if any adherents. The near consensus, Kelley said in an email, is that the hominin lineage arose in Africa.

The jaw in question belonged to a primate that anthropologists had previously namedGraecopithecus freybergi.In the new study, researchers at theUniversity of Tbingen in Germanyused a CT scan to peer insidethe jaw. They also analyzed an upper premolar tooth from another primate, dated via paleomagnetic studies to 7.2 million years ago, discovered in the Balkans in Bulgaria. The authors of the new studiessuggest that this loose tooth could have come from another member of the same species.

The scans of the jaw showed some similarities with human ancestors.Despite the chipped teeth, the roots buried inthe jawbone remained intact. The canine root was very short, Begun said. The premolar roots were simplified, partly fused.Both of those characteristics we find only in members of human lineage.

For the loose tooth, the thickness of the enamel ruled out other, better-documented ancient apes, the scientists said, such asOuranopithecus. But they could not prove with absolute certainty that the tooth camefrom Graecopithecus freybergi.

I really appreciate having a detailed analysis of the Graecopithecus jaw the only fossil of its genus so far, said Richard Potts, a paleoanthropologist who directs the Smithsonian Institutions Human Origins Program.But I think the principal claim of the main paper goes well beyond the evidence in hand.

Potts, who was not involved in this study, noted that the heyday of ape diversity occurred in Eurasia between 12 and 10 million years ago. This diverse group of primates migrated to lower latitudes namely, Africa and Asia to escape cooling northern temperaturesand more powerful seasonal changes. There was little to support the idea that hominins appeared before leavingEurope.

I don't think it's a strong case for hominin origins in Asia rather than Africa. Possible, yes, said New York University'sSusan C. Antn, a professor of anthropology who was not affiliated with the recent study. But because all of the later hominins are found inAfrica, the simplest explanation, she said, is an African origin.

Kelley questioned the significance of the fused premolar root. Some of the earliest hominins didnt have these fused tooth roots, whereas some of the later hominins did, he said. Given this discrepancy, it's a feature that may have evolved independently in several different lineages, he said.

The evidence that canine root reduction indicates the hominin status of Graeco is also not very convincing, Potts said. Only one canine root was studied. Plus, he said, there's no way to consider the root in the context of the entire tooth the canine crown had snapped off.So theres little basis for accepting the exceptional claim that a 7.2 million year old fossil from Greece is the oldest known human ancestor!

I'm the first to admit that what we have is less than ideal, Begun said. We need better-preserved jaws, and some limb bones to tell us if it was bipedal.The site in urban Athens where the jaw was discovered is now too developedto hunt for fossils.But where the lone tooth was found in the Balkans, to the north across the Aegean Seafrom Athens, ancient rocky outcrops remain.

Begun said he plansto travel to Bulgaria tolook for additional fossils.If you have one tooth, he said, that means there has to be other specimens out there.

Read more:

Archaeology shocker: Study claims humans reached the Americas 130,000 years ago

Humanitys strange new cousin is shockingly young and shaking up our family tree

Another problem with cannibalism: Humans actually arent very filling

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Ape that lived in Europe 7 million years ago could be human ancestor, controversial study suggests - Washington Post

Five people have been arrested and are in prison

Five people are in custody after the Delaware State Police, with the assistance of the FBI and the Delaware Department of Justice, completed their investigation into a case of human trafficking.

Delaware State Police spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said the investigation began May 8 when the foster parent of a 16-year-old girl contacted Troop 3s Criminal Investigation Unit. The parent said the girl, who had been missing since March 27, may have been prostituting via the backpage.com website.

Detectives found a listing that showed photographs appearing to be the missing teen and were able to confirm her identity through the foster parent. Investigators conducted a search of law enforcement records for the phone number listed and were able to link it to 18-year-old Jason Haith of Dover and his girlfriend, Jessica A. Hutkin, 34, of Smyrna.

A joint DSP/FBI/DOJ operation was started Friday, May 19 as investigators called Haiths number and arranged a meeting for sexual favors in exchange for compensation at a south Dover motel.

At about 1:40 p.m. a white 2017 Hyundai Sonata, bearing New York registration, pulled into the motel and the 16-year-old victim was seen leaving the car. Troopers stopped the car after it left the motel and the Haith and Hutkin were taken into custody without incident. Another passenger, Austin White, 19,of Smyrna, also was arrested.

A computer check showed Sonata had been reported as stolen out of Philadelphia April 6, Fournier said.

Further investigation revealed that Haith, Hutkin, and White, along with two other people, Donnell Singletary, 32, and Taliesha Haith, 34, both of Dover, used each others cell phones to make calls, send text messages, and/or connect to the internet to arrange prostitution activities for the 16-year-old victim and another 17-year-old victim who also was advertised on backspace.com.

Singletary and Taliesha Haith were taken into custody at Jason Haith's home in the 1000 block of East Lebanon Road, Dover.

Information also suggested the prostitution activities were coordinated out of the Haith home on East Lebanon Road.

Jason Haith and Jessica Hutkin are charged with human trafficking sexual servitude, second-degree promoting prostitution, receiving stolen property, and second-degree conspiracy. They both are being held on a $34,000 secured bond.

Taliesha Haith, Donnell Singletary, and Austin White are charged with Human Trafficking Sexual Servitude, second-degree promoting Prostitution, and second-degree conspiracy.

They are being held on $32,000.00 secured bond each.

Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victims, only limited information will be released, Fournier said. Both victims have been placed in the safety of Division of Family Services.

Victims or persons with information regarding the activities of any of the five individuals in custody are asked to contact Detective M. Weinstein at 302-698-8443 or the Troop 3 Major Crimes Unit at 302-698-8434.

Information also may be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 900-TIP-3333, via the internet at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword DSP.

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State police, FBI bust Dover human trafficking operation - Dover Post

New York Post

Fossil discovery delivers blow to 'Out of Africa' theory New York Post The creature, known as Graecopithecus freybergi and nicknamed El Graeco, may be the oldest known member of the human lineage that began after a split from the branch that led to chimpanzees, our closest cousins. The jawbone, which included teeth, ... and more »

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Fossil discovery delivers blow to 'Out of Africa' theory - New York Post

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wolf nominates insurance commish for top post at proposed Health and Human Services Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday that he intends to nominate Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller to serve as the first secretary of his proposed Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Wolf has proposed combining the Department of Aging, the ... Insurance chief would lead new health, human services agencyCT Post all 15 news articles »

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Wolf nominates insurance commish for top post at proposed Health and Human Services - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

One Republican state senator said theres no problem with being an advocate until you get on that commission and then what you want to do is you want to look at protecting all rights.

JUNEAU, Alaska The Alaska Legislature has rejected the appointment of Drew Phoenix, a transgender man, to serve on the states human rights commission.

The vote came Tuesday near the end of an hourslong joint session called to consider Gov. Bill Walkers nominees to boards, commissions and administration posts. Phoenix was the only nominee to be voted down.

Leading up to the vote, some conservative groups sought to paint Phoenix, who has advocated for LGBT rights, as too political for the post.

Sen. John Coghill, a Republican from North Pole, said theres no problem with being an advocate until you get on that commission and then what you want to do is you want to look at protecting all rights.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who supported Phoenixs nomination, asked whether the state is willing to appoint people to boards and commissions who understand discrimination firsthand and will work to end it or if people want to live in a state intolerant of those different from the majority or who have different views.

In a phone interview later in the day, Phoenix said he was incredibly upset and disheartened by the vote.

I just find it so ironic that somebody like myself, with so much years experience personally and professional working on behalf of human rights, that they would not confirm me to the commission on human rights, he said.

Phoenix said a state Senate committee that held confirmation hearings asked him questions related to his work as a transgender man with the LGBT community and if, given the opportunity, he would work to advance issues of equality for the LGBT community through the commission. He said he replied that, if thats what the commission seeks to do, he would.

He said one conservative group has framed the advancement of LGBT people as posing a threat to religious freedom. He said he is an ordained Christian minister and values religious freedom.

Phoenix thanked Walker for having faith in my qualifications.

Im so sad I wont be able to use my expertise and experience to advance the work of the commission, Phoenix said.

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Alaska lawmakers reject transgender man for human-rights post ... - The Seattle Times

Human remains thought to be from the 1700s or 1800s have been found on the site of a residential development under construction on Alexandrias waterfront, just in time for a city-sponsored excavation tour Saturday.

City officials said the remains were discovered Thursday by archaeologists working under contract with developer EYA, which is building the residential-retail project Robinson Landing on the site of an old newsprint warehouse, Robinson Terminal South, that was once owned by the former Washington Post Co.

City government spokesman Craig Fifer said theres no reason to believe other human remains are at the site; during the 18th and 19th centuries, it was not uncommon to bury people outside formal graveyards.

City and contract archaeologists will oversee the testing of the remains found this week to determine what should happen next, both at the site and with the bones themselves, Fifer said. Virginia law outlines specific processes for disposing of remains.

On Saturday morning, city archaeologists are scheduled to lead a previously arranged, reservations-only tour of the area.

Fifer said others who are curious about the site should not show up for the tour, because only 18 people can fit on the sidewalk at a time. The human remains are not on display.

An EYA spokesman said the discovery is not expected to seriously delay the Robinson Landing project, which is still in the early phases of excavation and backfill.

The site was once a point that jutted out into the Potomac River named Point Lumley. The cove was eventually filled in, and on that land, a shipwright built a wharf.

A shipyard and a flour mill operated there for a while, and a bone mill, where animal bones were processed into fertilizer. A 1987 fire regarded as the most devastating in the citys history destroyed much of the property, but the buildings were eventually replaced and used for a variety of marine, industrial-type operations.

The property has already given up artifacts including historic stone foundations for buildings, brick shafts and evidence of wooden box privies. The site is adjacent to another lot where a warehouse foundation and remnants of a 300-year-old ship were found in late 2015.

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Centuries-old human remains found at Alexandria waterfront ... - Washington Post