How significant do we perceive our lives to be? Rather, I should rephrase the question to how significant our lives are regarding longevity. We all know we have significance and purpose by being blessed to have been born. We have responsibilities to provide for our families, guide and hopefully direct our children for a better life than we have, and an obligation to be kind to our fellow man, leaving this world a better place for future generations. But let’s go back to longevity. An average lifespan today is what, 75-80 years? To put this in perspective, we began recording years by the calendar just a couple thousand years ago. So how significant are 75-80 years in comparison to 2023 years? Wait, it gets much deeper.
Before we delve into the subject of mankind, let’s begin with Earth itself. Any guesses as to what has been relatively accepted as to how old Earth is? For brevity, I won’t go into the radioactive dating that offers at least some accuracy as to how long our planet has been in existence. For this topic, let’s do our best to accept what science offers. For kicks and grins, do you have a figure in mind? Are you ready? How does 4.54 billion years strike you? That’s with a “B.” That’s right, most scientists agree that measured in calendar years, this is how old our planet is that sustains us. Now that we have a starting point, let’s move on to mankind.
It is widely accepted that the first “human beings” originated somewhere in Africa in what is now known as Somalia and Ethiopia. There are varied opinions of how many species of humans there are, belonging to the genus “Homo,” Latin for human. For this discussion, though we won’t describe each species in detail, it is accepted with at least some scientific assurance that there were/are 13 recognized Homo species. I know, there is argument for this, but we will concentrate on some of these. Evolution is a tricky subject, but science also indicates that human species have been distinguished by differences in morphology, weight, and primarily by brain size through time. Bear with me, for I have my reasons why I must go into history for where I’m headed.
Homo habilis, by all accord, was the first species of human. Originating around 2.5 million years ago, habilis was around 3 to 4 feet in height, weighing 35-45 pounds, with a brain size of 600 cubic centimeters (cc). Habilis would appear ape-like to us now, but still with human-like morphology. Though they could walk upright, they spent a considerable amount of time in trees, possibly to avoid predators. Remember, Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old with our first “humans” only in existence 2.5 million years ago. How eye opening is this statement?
Moving forward, Homo rudolfensis came into being around 2.1-1.8 million years ago (mya) with a brain size of approximately 750 cc. In succession, but not all human species described, next is Ergaster, 1.8-1.3 mya, brain size 800cc. Then Erectus 1.5 mya, brain size 950 cc, Antecessor 1.2 mya, brain size 1050cc. Around this time, the Middle Pleistocene, is where the water tends to become a little muddied. As species brain sizes increased, so did their advancements in stone tools, language, use of fire, dwellings, and the use of clothing. With Erectus being credited with the use of controlled fire, each species thereafter made huge strides in advancement.
Heidelbergensis, 600 thousand years ago with a brain size of 1200cc, may have been the first species with a language and improved flint knapping for more advanced hunting spears. Each species became more what we refer to as “human-like.” Next was Bodoensis, 600,000 to 450,000 years ago, brain size 1250cc, then Neanderthalensis 400,000 years ago, brain size 1450cc, and finally Homo sapiens 300,000 years ago to present, brain size 1600cc. Of course, there are variations in species, for example Homo naledi 335,000 to 235,000 years ago with brain size of 550cc. This species was much more mosaic and archaic, smaller, and inhabited trees more than other species mentioned. However, by remains of this species discovered in 2013, they were recognized as more plant eaters, from tooth analysis. More astonishing, is that they may have been more ritualistic with evidence that they may have buried their dead. Keep in mind, this is a very complex subject and we only have so much information to work with. So where am I going with the history of mankind?
My primary interest is who were the first inhabitants of North America, and how did they get here? The thirst for knowledge can be attributed to the stone tools and artifacts I have found through my career in the fields and the woods. Around 13,900 years ago, through what is accepted as global warming, or climate change, a gap formed between the Laurentide ice sheet and the Cordilleran ice sheet with the melting of this contiguous region of ice. This opened a travel corridor, in the form of a land bridge, from Beringia connecting Asia and North America. It is believed that a small human population, maybe a few thousand, migrated from what is now known as eastern Siberia during the last glacial maximum to the Americas during this time.
These people, known as The Clovis Culture, are credited with being the first ancestors of Native North Americans. The “Clovis” people are named after the town of Clovis, N.M, where the first fluted stone points were discovered in 1932 at Blackwater Locality No. 1, an archaeological site between the towns of Clovis and Portales, N.M. A “flute” of a fluted stone point is a groove in the point intentionally created by a flintknapper by removing a flake of flint from the base of projectile points. This groove allows for the point to be inserted into the shaft of a throwing spear offering more stability to the weapon. Additionally, a fluted point would better withstand and absorb the shock of colliding with a hard object such as the bone of a mastodon or bison when thrust into the animal. If you think about it, this was an amazing innovation in prehistoric times by a people figuring out how to make their tools for survival more robust and sustainable.
Can you imagine being the first to enter a continent that humans had never set foot upon in all the years the world had existed? I know it’s hard to comprehend, and I still struggle with it. The country was rich in game, from wooly mammoths, to mastodon, prehistoric bison, saber-toothed cats, sloths, camelops, and a host of smaller animals that have been found at Clovis sites. There is also speculation that these species were over-hunted and that the demise of the populations of megafauna was accelerated by these hunter/gatherers and their proficiency with their stone hunting tools. Alas though, cultures have changed since the beginning of time and continue to do so.
Since the discovery of the first Clovis points in New Mexico, these artifacts in history have been found in many parts of the Americas. There is additional evidence that this culture may have been present perhaps even 20,000 years ago, but that is for another discussion.
These stone tools continued to evolve from Clovis, to Folsom, Paleo, Dalton, Archaic, Woodland, and so on. I have collected hundreds of these points over the years, and I still know so very little about them and the cultures that produced them. It is still mind-boggling to me that our planet, being some 4.5 billion years old, and that some form of mankind has only been here a few million years. Of course, this is the only information we currently have, and we must base our assumptions solely upon this data. How do we really know how long “Homo” has existed? Every time I pick up a stone point, I ponder. Who was this individual? What kind of story does he or she hold? Keep in mind, our meager lifespan of 75-80 years is pale in comparison to what and who has been here before us.
My hunger for knowledge continues and my appetite has only been whetted, for there is so much to learn. What could these cultures and people of North America teach us about what it was like, and more importantly, why are they no longer here? We too, will be gone in time, and another people/culture will take our place. If we could only talk to them now and learn from their mistakes, which I’m certain they made, and we are likely following in their footsteps. Gives you something to think about, doesn’t it?
Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
