Human evolution in the sea at bioko norwegian scitech news. Nov 30, 2010 a short video explaining the aquatic ape theory. The aquatic ape theory suggest that the main reason why we differ from gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos which all share a common ancestor with us is that humans adapted to live in aquatic environments, while apes did not. Finlays casebook, but for decades the welsh feminist writer championed human evolutionary theories using aquatic species. 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. The aquatic ape hypothesis the most credible theory of human evolution by elaine. In an article for the conversation, roberts slammed attenboroughs decision to create a twopart radio series on the theory, known as the aquatic ape hypothesis, which she said lacks credible. Presumably, early apes were plant and fruit eaters in tropical.
Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. We walk upright all the time, we dont have fur, we have bigger brains and are less robust, and so on. For the past 150 years, scientists and laypeople alike have accepted a savanna scenario of human evolution. The aquatic ape theory was an attempted explanation for why humans differ so much from the other great apes. Sep 16, 2016 in an article for the conversation, roberts slammed attenboroughs decision to create a twopart radio series on the theory, known as the aquatic ape hypothesis, which she said lacks credible. 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 other great apes 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. One quick search on amazon got me directed to this dealer and within about 3 days i. My name is erik abrahamsson a swedish anthropologist and photographer. Theory that humans underwent a semiaquatic phase at some point in their evolution. The aquatic ape hypothesis by elaine morgan, paperback. Each of the individual claims is small enough in scope to be called a hypothesis wading hypothesis, hairdrag hypothesis, fatbuoyancy hypothesis, etc. Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of. 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. How likely is it that the aquatic ape hypothesis is true.
Bbc radio 4 recently broadcast a twopart series, the waterside ape, which asked some straightforward questions. It was not accepted by mainstream science because there was not enough evidence to support it. Hominids all diverged from common ancestors, but homo sapiens more radically so. In discussions of human origins invariably rest on rather shaky foundations. A gorilla in the congo wading in a swamp image courtesy of wikicommons. This idea was attacked at first by scientists, but the book became an international bestseller. Nov 01, 1982 the aquatic ape hypothesis is one such. One theory, or hypothesis as the case may be, that tenaciously attacks.
Apr 16, 2012 the aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. Key proponents of aat aquatic ape theory hypothesis. The writer elaine morgan championed it in her book the aquatic ape, and. Aquatic ape theory how is aquatic ape theory abbreviated. The aah is, in very general terms, the idea that protohumans andor early humans at some point lived at least a semi aquatic existence and that our evolution was shaped in important ways by one or more periods when our ancestors lived along rivers. The waterside ape 2016 david attenborough examines the. Most credible theory of human evolution new ed by morgan, elaine isbn. The theory was first discussed in the 1940s but it has many difficulties. He waited for thirty years before publishing an account of it, having a shrewd idea how it would be received and how it might damage his career.
I am interested in indigenous cultures, maritime lifestyles and evolutionary science. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat and more recently the waterside model, is the idea that certain ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than other great apes and even many modern humans, and, as. The scars of evolution 1990, the descent of the child 1994, the aquatic ape hypothesis 1997 and the naked darwinist 2008 and continued to promote the aquatic ape theory until the end of her life. The aquatic ape theory, championed by elaine morgan for years and now making its way into the scientific and popular mainstream, contends that. Aquatic ape theory in the land of nevermore, near the wastelands of elmira. Since the theory was first suggested more than 55 years ago, huge. She wrote six books about the aquatic ape theory, derived from ancient greek philosophies about human. What is the supporting evidence for the aquatic ape theory. In 1960 he came out publicly with his aquatic ape theory. The aquatic ape theory suggests that when our ancestors moved onto the savanna they were already different from apes. The aah is, in very general terms, the idea that protohumans andor early humans at some point lived at least a semiaquatic existence and that our evolution was shaped in important ways by one or more periods when our ancestors lived along rivers.
While morgan staunchly argues that there is a lot of. 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. Proponents of the aquatic ape theory compare the predictions of their model with the predictions that they derive for a traditionalist model, which they term the. She wrote six books about the aquatic ape theory, derived from ancient greek philosophies about human evolution. An early proponent of the theory, elaine morgan, was a documentary writer and composed a series of books on the topic that helped to raise more awareness for it beginning in 1972. My book arrived both sooner and in better condition that i expected. 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. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic 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 semi aquatic 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. 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. I can see two possible future scenarios for the aquatic ape theory. The aquatic ape theory is something i first heard about from one of my favourite blogs, mermaids are real, which is actually a published book as well. The aquatic ape theory is large enough in scope to be called a theory. A new aquatic ape theory science smithsonian magazine.
The aquatic ape theory or aquatic ape hypothesis has been in the air for. This is a blog about sea nomads, maritime lifestyles and human evolutionary science. Aquatic ape theory does present a compelling explanation for how a fully aquatic humanlike creature may have evolved. Synopsis this thoughtprovoking text presents the aquatic ape theory, with new information, new questions and a wealth of documentary evidence. The hypothesis was initially proposed by the marine biologist alister hardy in 1960, who argued that a branch of apes was forced by. I had just watched the animal planet mockumentary on tv and was left with at least a hundred questions as to the basis of the aquatic ape theory. Apr 11, 2020 aquatic ape theory does present a compelling explanation for how a fully aquatic humanlike creature may have evolved.
Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests. We hope to bring to you good vibes with a side of crunchy tunes. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat proposes an alternative view of hominin evolution. People think they know about evolution, but the aquatic ape theory isnt science. The features distinguishing them are far more varied than the features dividing other pairs of species which are so closely genetically related. All the other current theories of hominid development are only that theories, even though the scientific community seems to have a lot vested in them. Evidence for the aquatic ape theory the main evidence is humans have several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. Some ignore it, some ridicule it, some are convinced that its the truth and some have never heard of it. The aquatic ape theory is highly controversial to say the least. Excellent new theory concerning the aquatic ape hypothesis.
The aquatic ape hypothesis by elaine morgan overdrive. In this lesson, well discuss reasons this idea is compelling, as well as. Also, have we adapted physiologically and cognitively to a littoral environment in which we depended on those aquatic and marine resources. Through the process of convergent evolution, an aquatic environment offers an alternative hypothesis for certain features that humans have compared to other primates.
The aquatic ape theory suggests that human ancestors spent much of their time in shoreline or aquatic environments. The hypothetical aquatic phase of the ancestral apes during the fossil gap would have been brief, a matter of two or three million years. He explores biological evidence supporting the aquatic ape theory and other prehuman. The aquatic ape theory states that our ancestors once spent a sinificant part of their life in water. He was not aware that a similar idea had been published in germany during the war by. Television writer and scientific theorist elaine morgan may have been known for penning the popular british tv series dr. The aquatic ape theory was first proposed by max westenhofer in 1942, then once again in 1960 through the independent research of alister hardy.
Presumably, early apes were plant and fruit eaters in tropical forests. The aquatic ape theory graham hancock official website. Humans differ from apes in a surprising number of ways. Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution. Inside said jungle dwelled the beasts which you have come to know as aquatic ape theory. A documentary by sir david attenborough, the waterside ape, is based on morgans aquatic ape hypothesis. In presenting her case elaine morgan forces scientists to question accepted theories of human evolution. First proposed by sir alister hardy in the 1950s, and taken up in the 1970s by elaine morgan in books such as the descent of woman and the descent of the child. Something very unusual must have happened to our distant ancestors to account for the dramatic change in hominids. One quick search on amazon got me directed to this dealer and within about 3 days i had it in my hands. The aquatic ape theory is at least a reasonable hypothesis, if not a fully acceptable scientific theory. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The writer elaine morgan championed it in her book the aquatic ape. It is the most persuasive, closely argued case yet offered to explain the mystery of human origins. The aquatic ape theory proposes that such an aquatic phase, during which ancestral hominids relied on a water habitat, explains much of the distinctive anatomy of recent humans. It provides a sensible explanation for why human beings, while genetically similar to apes, possess so many different physical features, and how these physical adaptations could have come into being. Buy the aquatic ape first edition by morgan, elaine isbn. 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. It has some supporting evidence or, rather, it isnt definitively contradicted by the evidence that there is. 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 semiaquatic stage in our evolution and that this accounts for many features seen in human anatomy and physiology. Like modern whales that evolved from land mammals long ago, is it possible that a species of ape, descended from the same ancestors as we humans, may have evolved a flipper tail while retaining a humanlike upper body. Jan 03, 2011 elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. There may, one day, be enough for it to be adopted as a solid scientific theory.
The aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. The aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. 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. There lies a jungle, a jungle unrivaled by any other. The aquatic ape hypothesis is one of these, now championed by sir david.
Peter rhysevans outlines the fossil evidence and other considerations supporting the controversial aquatic ape hypothesis. The aquatic ape theory fails as a scientific theory because it has no supporting evidence. The theory of an aquatic phase in human prehistory was conceived by sir alister hardy in 1930, when he was a young professor of marine biology at oxford. I first heard about the aquatic ape hypothesis from sharon moalems survival of the sickest, and for years i intended to read more about it but never got around to it. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory. Sometimes known as aat a highly plausible and convincing theory to some, a load of nonsense to others. The aquatic ape theory or aquatic ape hypothesis has been in the air for decades now. The theory was branded rediculous by the scientific community because that is how science works.
Vocalsbass ben abbott lead guitar john swift rythmn guitar tom horn keyboards spike drums sam mckee lazy. So the aquatic ape theory is actually pretty interesting. Critics of the aquatic ape theory are usually quite laughable their main argument against aat is that every detail of the theory isnt concretely provable. The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs hhmi biointeractive video duration. A few months ago i read an npr article in which the writer made a brief dismissive comment about the theory, which i recalled feeling positive about from its portrayal in moalems book. He explores biological evidence supporting the aquatic ape theory and other prehuman cultures, and considers stonehenge, mystery cults, legendary early peoples. The latter states that when our ancestors spread around the world over the last couple o. Apr 28, 20 the aquatic ape theory is large enough in scope to be called a theory. The aquatic ape theory states that our ancestors once spent a significant part of their life in water.
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. The argument for the aquatic ape theory was based mainly on facts of comparative anatomy. How long have humans and our ancestors been habitual users of aquatic and marine resources. Contrary to its cryptozoological title, its actually more about real history than it sounds, but thats a story for another day. In the decades since, morgans aquatic ape hypothesis has gained widespread support. Textbooks on human evolution have been either ignoring or ridiculing the aquatic ape theory for the past 50 years.