Chapter four the aquatic ape theory mermaids are real. Evidence and a possible scenario article pdf available in medical hypotheses 161. In a nutshell, its a book written for the nonacademic masses, so dont expect it to be written in a scholarly manner. We walk upright all the time, we dont have fur, we have bigger brains and are less robust, and so on.
The body found, about a team of scientists with forensic evidence of mermaids aquatic apes that split from our line some 7 million years ago. This book is an update to her 1960s book the aquatic ape theory which is now sorely outofdate, so if youre going to read it, read the 1990s version called aquatic ape hypothesis. Jun 27, 2018 there are two theories involving an aquatic aspect to human evolution the original aquatic ape theory aat and verhaegens coastal dispersal theory cdt. Aug 22, 2002 i caught a show on discover lastnight a show on the aquatic ape theory. My book arrived both sooner and in better condition that i expected.
Human evolution in the sea at bioko norwegian scitech news. In presenting her case elaine morgan forces scientists to question accepted theories of human evolution, while expressing complex ideas for the general reader in a clear and accessible style. The aquatic ape theory aat is one of the more successful alternatives to orthodox human evolution theory. The voynich code the worlds most mysterious manuscript the secrets of nature duration. Presumably, early apes were plant and fruit eaters in tropical forests. My name is erik abrahamsson a swedish anthropologist and photographer. African origins theory is fairly well accepted among anthropologists and archaeologists, as well as most related scientific disciplines, but there are, as with natural selection, some competing ideas. A new aquatic ape theory science smithsonian magazine. Given the problems it still gives us millions of years later, such as back pain, hemorrhoids and hernias, bipedalism must have been necessary for some reason. Read 2 of her books on the subject in the late 80s while i was a biology major and i have never been able to get her ideas out of my head. It suggests that the significant loss of body hair, bipedalism, and other characteristics evolved some time earlier in an aquatic or semi aquatic environment, when the human and ape lines first diverged. While it is of no notable feminist import, it is considerably more up to date for the aataah, better written, better researched 25 years more research went into it, with more evidence, better references, and so on and so forth. In the human cerebral cortex, for instance, the areas that control the fine movements of the hand, the.
Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution people think they know about evolution, but the aquatic ape theory isnt science. The descent of the child takes her further into the fray with a provocative new argument adding. The term aquatic ape gives an incorrect impression of our semiaquatic ancestors. In this lesson, well discuss reasons this idea is compelling, as well as. Although there is evidence that brachiating apes developed bipedalism in the trees, the aquatic ape theory says it was required for wading in the semiaquatic habitat under the trees. It is believed that humans developed the process of being able to stand on two legs as a way to be able to get out of the waters that covered the ancient world.
The hypothesis was initially proposed by the marine biologist alister hardy in 1960, who argued that a branch of apes was forced by competition over terrestrial habitats to hunt for food such as shellfish on the sea shore and sea bed leading to adaptations that explained distinctive characteristics of modern humans such as functional hai. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory 25 jan 2005 this is now an old post from 2005 see updates below one of the most common arguments about human evolution on the internet is whether hominids ever went through an aquatic phase in their evolution. Aquatic ape theory, speech origins, and brain differences. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat is the idea that ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than those of. Aquatic ape theory, speech origins, and brain differences with apes and monkeys article pdf available in medical hypotheses 445. The aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. Green berets ultralight bug out bag with gear recommendations duration. According to the evolutionists aquatic ape theory aat, we all came from apes that lived underwater, much like the seamonkeys seen in the back of old archie comic books. Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. The aquatic ape hypothesis is one of these, now championed by sir david attenborough in his recent bbc radio 4 series the waterside ape.
Pdf that shallow aquatic habitats allowed hominids to thrive in. It suggests that the significant loss of body hair, bipedalism, and other characteristics evolved some time earlier in an aquatic or semiaquatic environment, when the human and ape lines first diverged. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory. The documentary interviews scientists, plays audio recordings of anomalous sounds from oceanographic scientists, shows. Oct 20, 2014 it does seem to me to be perfectly reasonable for a largely hairless ape to move in the shallows and collect crustaceans, without needing to be able to swim like a dolphin. Otherwise, i suggest you buy the aquatic ape hypothesis by the same author. Fossil evidence is scarce and this has been the main reason why critics have been reluctant to consider the theory. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic. Recently i wrote about the aquatic ape hypotheses, inspired by a conference being held on the subject. Medical hypotheses medical hypotheses 1987 24, 293300 cc longman group uk ltd 1987 the aquatic ape theory and some common diseases m. It just so happens that the annunaki also have 46 chromosomes. In 1967, the hypothesis was mentioned in the naked ape, a popular book by the zoologist desmond morris, who reduced hardys phrase more aquatic apelike ancestors to the bare aquatic ape, commenting that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support.
The argument for the aquatic ape theory was based mainly on facts of comparative anatomy. I am interested in indigenous cultures, maritime lifestyles and evolutionary science. The aquatic ape theory graham hancock official website. This is because the evidence is stacking up more and more towards the aquatic ape theory and against the savannah theory. The aquatic ape theory, championed by elaine morgan for years and now making its way into the scientific and popular mainstream, contends that. Synopsis this thoughtprovoking text presents the aquatic ape theory, with new information, new questions and a wealth of documentary evidence. I was wondering where the science stands at the moment and if there are other arguments for this. Elaine morgan and the aquatic ape erika lorraine milam. Scientific american is the essential guide to the most aweinspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our. The aquatic ape hypothesis, also referred to as aquatic ape theory is the idea that ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than those of other great apes. Hominids all diverged from common ancestors, but homo sapiens more radically so.
A brief critique of morgans 1997 book,the aquatic ape hypothesis elaine morgans 1997 aquatic ape book her sixth is supposedly her best researched according to her so ive read it and here jotted down some notes of things that i could immediately see were errors, problems, or logical fallacies. Sep 17, 2016 sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes heres why aquatic ape theory has persisted for over 50 years, despite evidence showing it does not stack up. President obama, david attenborough and the aquatic ape. Verhaegen, mechelbaan 338, 2870 putte, belgium abstract the aquatic ape theory claims that human ancestors once lived in a semiaquatic habitat.
A challenge to langdons 1997 critique of the aquatic ape hypothesis has still not been published despite the paper appearing to have a number of weaknesses which deserve a response. Different people have different theories or ideas about the evolution of man. Apr 11, 20 the aquatic ape theory suggests that when our ancestors moved onto the savanna they were already different from apes. The term aquatic ape gives an incorrect impression of our semi aquatic ancestors.
Hey after reading the website and listening to the unslaved podcast, i really dont think that aquatic ape theory stands up to be honest, no pun intended as it doesnt explain the fact that humans have just 46 chromosomes and primates hominoids have 48. Elaine morgan and other aquatic ape theory proponents have cited various other differences between humans and other lcm descendants that may support the aquatic ape theory theory, such as the presence of salt glands, skin thickness, and mating postures. The aquatic ape theory and some common diseases sciencedirect. The technically pedantic among you will note that the aquatic ape idea is not a theory in the strict sense, and thus doesnt deserve the title. Aquatic ape theory essaysthere are many debates about how homo sapiens came to be. Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests that early hominids lived in water at least part of the time. Humans differ from apes in a surprising number of ways. The theory was first put forward more than 55 years ago. In 1967, the hypothesis was mentioned in the naked ape, a popular book by the zoologist desmond morris, who reduced hardys phrase more aquatic ape like ancestors to the bare aquatic ape, commenting that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support. In her much debated earlier works, morgan has championed the controversial aquatic ape theory of human evolution against the widely accepted savannah theory. May, 20 i first learned of elaine morgan and the aquatic ape theory from a botanist. Nov 01, 1982 this book is an update to her 1960s book the aquatic ape theory which is now sorely outofdate, so if youre going to read it, read the 1990s version called aquatic ape hypothesis. The town offered a onemilliondollar reward to anyone who could show concrete evidence of this mermaid, but so far it has gone unclaimed.
Another implicit argument against it is that there is very little archaeological evidence for the exploitation of aquatic food in the premodern. There is the christian belief that a spiritual power put humans onto the earth, this view is shared by many religions throughout the world. The waterside hypothesis requires a rethinking of human evolution. Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution. Before we were human we lived in the oceans and seas like dolphins and whales do now. And, in fact, by that time, its author did not intend to postulate a hypothesis of her own. This idea was attacked at first by scientists, but the book became an international bestseller. The aquatic ape theory has been disregarded by paleoanthropologists, but it. Unsurprisingly, other people have also been busy discussing the topic and there has been a fun pseudoscientific parody called the space ape theory which took off rather nicely on twitter and is doing a good job of highlighting problems with the. Through the process of convergent evolution, an aquatic environment offers an alternative hypothesis for certain features that humans have compared to other primates.
Read aquatic ape theory, speech origins, and brain differences with apes and monkeys, medical hypotheses on deepdyve, the largest online rental service for scholarly research with thousands of academic publications available at your fingertips. One quick search on amazon got me directed to this dealer and within about 3 days i. In the program, they interview free diver sara campell who went from a total beginner to a holder of three world records in just eight months. In a 2016 september bbc radio program titled the waterside ape, sir david attenbourough presents new evidence for the waterside theory that have been published in recent years. The aquatic ape theory suggests that when our ancestors moved onto the savanna they were already different from apes. Next week they will hold a major london conference when several speakers, including david attenborough, will voice support for the theory. The aquatic ape theory was an attempted explanation for why humans differ so much from the other great apes. The aquatic ape theory aka aat or aah ill generally use the term aath on this site hypothesizes that humans went through an aquatic or semiaquatic stage in our evolution, generally said to have occurred during the transition from the last common ancestor we shared with apes lca to hominids although some aath proponents claim it continued on. The aquatic ape theory suggests that human ancestors spent much of their time in shoreline or aquatic environments. Pdf much more than other primates, man has several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. The aquatic ape theory often referred to as the aat or aah ill generally refer to it as the aath on this site says humans went through an aquatic or semi aquatic stage in our evolution and that this accounts for many features seen in human anatomy and physiology. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes. I first learned of elaine morgan and the aquatic ape theory from a botanist. Aquatic ape theory elaine morgan check the evidence.
Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes heres why. Apr 28, 20 the aquatic ape theory fails as a scientific theory because it has no supporting evidence. To the authors conviction, the aquatic ape theory, as described by morgan did neither fulfil the criteria of a hypothesis nor of a theory. I caught a show on discover lastnight a show on the aquatic ape theory. In the decades since, morgans aquatic ape hypothesis has gained widespread support.
One theory, or hypothesis as the case may be, that tenaciously attacks. Humans and apes show clear differences in brain anatomy. In a nutshell, its a book written for the nonacademic masses, so dont expect it. Apr 11, 2020 the town offered a onemilliondollar reward to anyone who could show concrete evidence of this mermaid, but so far it has gone unclaimed. Did some of our human features evolve while our ancestors were living in water. May 20, 2017 elaine morgan and other aquatic ape theory proponents have cited various other differences between humans and other lcm descendants that may support the aquatic ape theory theory, such as the presence of salt glands, skin thickness, and mating postures.
We watched a 90minute documentary on animal planet last night recorded from the day before called mermaids. The aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. The correct term isnt the aquatic ape hypothesis, its the aquatic ape pseudotheory. This aquatic lifestyle supposedly accounts for our hairless bodies, which made us more streamlined for swimming and diving.
But its lack of supporting evidence doesnt demote it from a theory to a hypothesis, it demotes it from science to pseudoscience. If mermaids are really out there, and aquatic ape theory really does explain their evolution, they probably dont look much like pretty, young girls. On animal planet, aquatic apes, aka mermaids evolution. In order to graduate from hypothesis to theory, an explanation must be supported by multiple lines of evidence. She lists our furless bodies, upright gait and subcutaneous fat as indicators that lump us in with animals that have been aquatic in their evolution. Sep 26, 2008 a 5 minute explanation of a new approach towards evolution. He had seen a television special on the theory and briefly followed up with a search of the scientific literature, but. Verhaegen, mechelbaan 338, 2870 putte, belgium abstract the aquatic ape theory claims that human ancestors once lived in. It is unlikely that an ancestor fossil will ever be found that conclusively identifies an aquatic lifestyle because the skeleton would not necessarily reflect the aquatic adaptations. Rip elaine morgan, popularizer of the aquatic ape hypothesis. She will be remembered for challenging malecentric theories of human evolution, and. The aquatic ape theory suggests that at some point in the evolutionary chain for humanity, there was a period of time when there was an aquatic or a semi aquatic stage.
From what i can piece together from the incoherent evolutionist literature, the aquatic ape story goes like this. A documentary by sir david attenborough, the waterside ape, is based on morgans aquatic ape hypothesis. This is the aquatic ape theory and although treated with derision by some academics over the past 50 years, it is still backed by a small, but committed group of scientists. The features distinguishing them are far more varied than the features dividing other pairs of species which are so closely genetically related. Better terms are in my opinion the coastal dispersal model munro, 2010 or the littoral theory of human evolution, but although littoral seems to be a more appropriate biologi cal term here than aquatic, throughout this paper i will use the wellknown and common. I can see two possible future scenarios for the aquatic ape theory. Billions of years ago a bunch of monkeys lived under the sea. It is the most persuasive, closely argued case yet offered to explain the mystery of human origins. The aquatic ape theory states that our ancestors once spent a significant part of their life in water. Theres been about as much scrutiny from anthropologists regarding the so called aquatic ape theory in the last 50 years as there was from geologists into continental drift theory around the time of. May 07, 20 aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution people think they know about evolution, but the aquatic ape theory isnt science. Later, the aquatic ancestor hypothesis aah was renamed as the socalled aquatic ape theory or aat morgan 1990.
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