Much ado has accompanied the widespread discovery of skeletal remains that suggest that several species of the Homo genera have existed in the remote past and that these genera have failed to thrive is attributed in part to the competition of Homo sapiens. Skeletal remains may suggest such species existed but the bones themselves do not provide a cogent or blanket idea of how or why the species were eliminated. For example, did Neanderthal mankind have an opposable thumb? I don't know and how would anyone else know if they couldn't examine the multiple bones of the wrist and particularly the position of the scaphoid and trapezium.
In 2014 I wrote an article on the thumb of Homo sapiens and on mine and all others of that genera. The opposable thumb is provided with strength and motion by two small muscles in the hand, Opponens pollicis and its friend Adducter pollicis. The muscles provide the motor for fine pinch and grip, a skill available, refined as far a we know, only in Homo sapiens because of the completely opposable thumb. What I am about to tell you is earth-shaking news, not just about dinky little muscles making pill-rolling motions with the thumb and index finger. Pay attention because this is important. From the article *
* "Homo sapiens could never have the fine and complex pinch unless they also could lift the thumb away from the palm. Mankind's opposable and complex digital sinews brought into play by extension of the thumb has allowed the singularity of this early gift as the foundation for the development of intellect. How so you say. Intellect builds capacity, but capacity builds intellect. A stunning chicken and egg interaction that fueled the development of both. Possibly Homo sapiens overcame Neanderthal mankind due to the ability to perform complex pinch and grip and the ensuing intellect that lead to clever deception rather than simple head bashing activity." *
The importance of anatomy in the development of intellect should never be under estimated. The evolution of change and its rate of change has gone from selection of Homo sapiens out of the Hominidae family to the conquering of interstellar space by way of the opposable thumb. To suggest the foregoing is overstatement, may be to deny the domino effects of evolution. If you think this is a reach too far---not so----
time was on our side and great changes come from a chain of little things.
In 2014 I wrote an article on the thumb of Homo sapiens and on mine and all others of that genera. The opposable thumb is provided with strength and motion by two small muscles in the hand, Opponens pollicis and its friend Adducter pollicis. The muscles provide the motor for fine pinch and grip, a skill available, refined as far a we know, only in Homo sapiens because of the completely opposable thumb. What I am about to tell you is earth-shaking news, not just about dinky little muscles making pill-rolling motions with the thumb and index finger. Pay attention because this is important. From the article *
* "Homo sapiens could never have the fine and complex pinch unless they also could lift the thumb away from the palm. Mankind's opposable and complex digital sinews brought into play by extension of the thumb has allowed the singularity of this early gift as the foundation for the development of intellect. How so you say. Intellect builds capacity, but capacity builds intellect. A stunning chicken and egg interaction that fueled the development of both. Possibly Homo sapiens overcame Neanderthal mankind due to the ability to perform complex pinch and grip and the ensuing intellect that lead to clever deception rather than simple head bashing activity." *
The importance of anatomy in the development of intellect should never be under estimated. The evolution of change and its rate of change has gone from selection of Homo sapiens out of the Hominidae family to the conquering of interstellar space by way of the opposable thumb. To suggest the foregoing is overstatement, may be to deny the domino effects of evolution. If you think this is a reach too far---not so----
time was on our side and great changes come from a chain of little things.
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