|
|
From: Bill Hamilton
The following review has been sent to Perspectives on Science and Christian
Faith. At the time I asked Richard Ruble, the book review editor if it was
ok to post the review on the ASA reflector. He didn't respond, but since
the subject has come up in the discussion, I will take the liberty of
posting it.
Richard said he made a few stylistic changes. Here it is, unvarnished...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
"Adam, Apes and Anthropology: Finding the Soul of Fossil Man" by Glenn R.
Morton. Dallas, DMD Publishing Co., 1997. 195 pages, index. Paperback,
$20.00 + $2.00 P&H ISBN 0-9648227-2-5
How should an archaeologist decide whether hominid remains are human
remains? In the debate between those who hold that the human race is no
older than 40,000 years or so and those who attribute earlier origins to
man , the question of how you identify man is crucial. In this book, Glenn
Morton argues that, to identify humanness, one should look for evidence of
activities typically associated with humans, including speech, religion,
art, burial, decoration, toolmaking, planning and care of the injured. This
book reports data from published literature showing that ancient hominids
did many of the things we associate with humanity as long as 1.8 million
years ago. Biblically man is the image-bearer of God. The image of God
doesn't fossilize, but fossil evidence that ancient hominids did things we
consider uniquely human would suggest strongly that these individuals were
human.
Speech, associated with brain regions called Broca's and Wernicke's areas,
is a uniquely human activity. Animals such as monkeys have Broca's and
Wernicke's areas, but do not use them for speech. Man's very large
Broca's area makes a recognizable impression in the skull, and this feature
in a fossil skull indicates an individual with speech capability. Morton
cites literature showing the presence of Broca's area in 2 million year-old
homo habilis skulls, as well as later h. erectus and Neanderthal skulls.
Ancient hominid technology provides further evidence of their humanity.
For example, men utilize space differently from animals, dividing living
spaces into areas for functions such as sleeping and food preparation.
Neanderthal and other ancient hominids organized their living spaces as
humans do, rather than the undifferentiated dens of animals. While no
ancient hominid clothing has survived, plenty of indirect evidence exists,
such as sewing needles and scrapers for cleaning hides. These evidences go
back 26,000 years. Furthermore, there is evidence that h. erectus lived in
Siberia and Germany 300,000-400,00 years ago and in Georgia 1.6 million
years ago, and these locations require winter clothing.
While it might seem difficult to find evidence of man's soul in the fossil
record, some evidence is available if "soul" is defined as self-awareness.
Morton studies evidence of planning depth and compassion for the injured on
the part of ancient hominids. Neanderthal's planning depth -- the ability
to plan ahead -- extended to days or months, as evidenced by the distance
they transported tool and weapon raw materials. Chimpanzees' planning
depth runs at most to minutes. There is evidence Neanderthal and h.
erectus treated their incapacitated with compassion more than 40000 years
ago and 1.7 million years ago respectively. Morton relates the story of
KNM-ER 1808, a dying h. erectus woman whose remains were discovered in
1973. KNM-ER 1808 was cared for and protected by companions during her
last days, approximately 1.7 million years ago in Kenya. The woman's
remains were found with evidence of bone growth caused by hypervitaminosis
A. This growth would have taken many days to form, during much of which she
would have been incapacitated. Someone brought her food and water and
protected her from predators. Morton notes that Jane Goodall's studies of
chimpanzees' treatment of an injured tribe member show that such
compassionate treatment is not common among apes.
When new evidence contradicts our understanding of Scripture, we can
Morton presents a strong argument for the fourth alternative, and a warning
to evangelicals to avoid the damage to Christian credibility that results
from the first. The careful logic and extensive references provide an
excellent starting point for anyone wanting to investigate the humanity of
fossil hominids.
Reviewed by William E. Hamilton, Jr., General Motors Research and
Development Center, 30500 Mound Road, Warren, MI 48090-9055
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William E. Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D.
hamilton@predator.cs.gmr.com / whamilto@mich.com (home)
Press Backspace to return
Tue, 5 May 1998 10:00:06 -0400 (EDT)
1. Reject the evidence
2. Reject Scripture
3. Reinterpret Scripture to fit the evidence
4. Search for an interpretation that honors both
1346 W. Fairview Lane
Rochester, MI 48306
----------------------------------------------------------------------------