Question: on human evolution ....

[H2O Man]

Two years ago, a friend of mine died, leaving a large collection of northeastern archaeological finds. For a variety of reasons, his family decided to auction it off. It's not what I would favor, but it's not my business. My friend, a pediatrician of some note, who was connected with Syracuse University, was also on the NYS Museum's Iroquois' studies. Part of his collection can be viewed at the website of the auction house: www.hessegalleries.com

I went to the auction for a few reasons. Many years ago, on Christmas morning, my younger son became ill. I called the doctor, who had us stop at his house. When we were leaving, my then 5-year old son pulled a nice spear point he had taken from my collection, and gave it to the doctor for Christmas. My kids called him "Grandpa." So I wanted to get that and a couple other things to remember him by.

Among the items I bought was a basket full of artifacts, bought long ago, from the Olduvai Gorge (Bed 1) in Tanzania, Africa. They are, of course, fascinating. However, I have little background in this area, other than very general knowledge from National Geographic and the like.

Can anyone recommend a good source of information, perhaps even available on the internet? I'm confident that there are DUers with a greater background on this than I have. I appreciate any suggestions.

[frogmarch]

1. Bed 1

at Olduvai is about 1,700,000 to 2,100,000 years old, and is the oldest bed there. The tools you have are probably from the upper levels of Bed 1, and are part of what is termed "the Olduwan Industry." The tools were probably made by Homo habilis ("handy man"), but specimens of Australopithecus robustus have also been found in Bed 1 at Olduvai (as well as at other African sites of this age.) H. habilis is considered by some experts to have been the first member of the genus Homo.

Tools from the Olduwan Industry are very primitive, having no standardized design. They're made of pebbles, basalt, or quartz, and appear to be little more than rocks hacked in two for use as scrapers, cutters, or choppers. It takes a trained eye to recognize most of them as human artifacts, and because of this, the authenticity of some the artifacts is often disputed by experts. I have seen samples of these tools myself, and I understand why.

Maybe if you posted your request in the Science forum here at DU, you would get some good info. Or maybe google "Olduwan Industry."

Good luck! It would be interesting to hear what you learn about your artifacts.

An afterthought: Maybe you could click the "contact us" button at the Leakey Foundation website, and ask for information there. I'll try to find the URL.

Here it is:

http://www.leakeyfoundation.org/foundation/

[H2O Man]

2. Thanks.

I dug out my November 1985 edition of National Geographic. Of course, it is 20 years old. But it is still a great resource.

I'm googling a number of sites, too. I appreciate the link to the Leakey Foundation.

The artifacts look about like the crude ones found on archaic sites in the northeast. Most people would think, "Rocks." There are a number of bones, too, that are of course fossils now.

It appears that H. habilis was the last of crude tools, and H. erectus began the more advanced tools and control of fire. Obviously, it's my responsibility (and pleasure) to read more on this shift. But I remember that Luther Standing Bear, in his 1933 book, "Land of the Spotted Eagle," noted that, "The hand is the tool that has built man's mind; it, too, can refine it." It seems the increase in brain size and the increased sophistication in tool kits go hand-in-hand.

I've also got out Sagan's "The Dragons of Eden." As I recall, it has some fascinating information in it, too.

Again, I appreciate your help.

[frogmarch]

3. What a fine quote

by Luther Standing Bear. The hand is the tool that has built man's mind; it, too, can refine it. Quite profound.

Sagan's The Dragons of Eden is superb! Among his books, it's my favorite.

Donald Johannson's book, Lucy is superb as well. Have you read it? Even if you haven't, you are probably familiar with this famous fossil, the Australopithecus afarensis specimen Johannson discovered in the Afar region of Ehtiopia in the early 1970s. The specimen was dubbed "Lucy" after the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" which was popular at the time.

Here's a link to a very good "Lucy" website, if you're interested.

http://www.anthro4n6.net/lucy/

What kinds of animal bones do you have in your Olduvai collection? I've read that bones from various antelope species are common in Bed 1, and some show signs of having been cut, perhaps to get at the marrow. Are the bones you have fragments? Do you see signs of cutting?

Does holding in your hand an Olduvai tool that an ancestor of our species made and held in his or her hand, stir you? Gives me goosebumps picturing in my mind's eye the two of you as images flowing in and out of each other, each holding the very same tool.

[H2O Man]

4. Years ago, Hartwick Museum

in Oneonta, NY had a "Gifts From the Upper Susquehanna" display, featuring the collections of regional amateur archaeologists. I was proud to have been part of that. I remember it as helping break the ice between the pros and the amateurs, and that, of course, benefits us all.

One thing that stuck out was a mildly retarded fellow, who would later tell me that he has a mental illness, brought a box of artifacts on the "big weekend" when all the bigwigs were there. And he was showing them, and talking about how he could imagine the Indian people in the fields. One of the pros kind of laughed, and said something like, "We do not try to picture the man behind the tool." He was rude, and hurt this fellow's feelings, clearly.

A year ago, I was doing a presentation on a Revolutionary War site, a camp of Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. That same fellow appeared, lugging a much larger box of artifacts. And he said he remembered how when the pro was rude, I was polite. Well, I may be as odd as this fellow myself (though I'm horrified by the carrying of unprotected artifacts in a box!), because I can often spend time thinking about the person behind the artifact.

Holding the hammer stones and flake knives from Africa is unique, to say the least. I had said to my older son that some of the bones looked like they might be from an antelope-sized animal, though my only reason for saying that was from being familiar with deer in the northeast. I believe they show signs of cutting, although I will wait until I can see Dr. David Anthony at Hartwick, to get some expert insight, before I can say anything for sure.

The idea of the human family is fascinating. At unexpected times, I have found or been given things from grandparents, including those many generations back. These artifacts are all of our ancestors. They had no business being in an auction.