How We Came to Be: Evidence from Primate Relatives and Fossil Ancestors Offer Clues to How Human Capabilities for Birth, Posture, and Walking Evolved

A groundbreaking study sheds light on the evolution of human birth, posture, and bipedalism by analyzing fossil evidence from South Africa's Sterkfontein caves. The research highlights the significance of postcranial remains, such as Sts 14, which provided the first evidence of upright walking in early hominids. By comparing these fossils with extant primate anatomy, the study offers insights into the complex evolutionary pressures that shaped human pelvic morphology. This approach combines fossil records with comparative anatomical studies to unravel the intricate process of human evolution, emphasizing the need for a holistic perspective beyond museum-based research.

Laitman, J. T. (2017). How We Came to Be: Evidence from Primate Relatives and Fossil Ancestors Offer Clues to How Human Capabilities for Birth, Posture, and Walking Evolved. The Anatomical Record, 300(5), 786–788. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23575