Raymond Dart and the Taung child skull
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How do we know if an early
ape-man or womanwalked upright? An examination of certain bones - a tibia (leg bone) or a pelvis-, can reveal the answer and so can fossilized footprints.In 1976, members of a team led by Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized footprints ofhuman ancestorsin Laetoli, Africa formed 3.5 million years ago when at least two individuals walked over wet volcanic ash, that hardened like cement and was then covered by more ash.
The footprints show that one hominid was larger than the other and because the footprints fall next to each other, that they were walking side by side and close enough to each other to be touching.
Apes sometimes walk on two legs. How, then, can we be sure that the footprints weren't left by a couple of apes that decided to walk upright for a few yards? When an ape walks upright, weight is transmitted from the heel, along the outside of the foot, and then through the middle toes. A human foot transmits weight from the heel, along the outside of the foot, across the ball of the foot, and finally through the big toe (this is a much more efficient way to transfer energy when walking upright).
The footprints look remarkably like a human and some scientists had a hard time believing that they were made by Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy's species), the only human ancestor known to have lived at the time.
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| "Diverse People Unite" |
Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Common names: Mopane, Turpentine tree; Mopanie (Afr.); Mohlanare (Northern Sotho); Mophane (Tswana)
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These trees are for many people typical of the hot, low-lying areas near the Limpopo River in the far North of South Africa. Traditional use of the
The twigs chewed are used as tooth brushes and the leaves for healing wounds.
The mopane tree is an extremely important food source for animals and people; game animals, particularly elephants, enjoy the high protein leaves and pods.
In the Summer fat, dark green-greyish mopane Emperor moth worms (which can reach almost 10 cm long) eat the leaves. These insects rich in protein are sold and eaten roasted or dried.
A Speckled Emperor Moth
The Gonometa moth caterpillar spins cocoons which are harvested as wild silk to make cloth.
 In the picture above: Gonometa moths, coccoons and silk woven into a scarf.
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AmEriCa | ||||
| by Walt Whitman | ||||
Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,
All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,
Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,
Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,
A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,
Chair'd in the adamant of Time.
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