Missing link between H. erectus and H sapiens?

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The discussion centers on the timeline of hominid evolution, highlighting verified species leading to modern humans while acknowledging significant gaps in the fossil record. A recent discovery in Ethiopia, led by Dr. Sileshi Semaw, may provide evidence of an intermediate hominid existing between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens, dating back 500,000 to 250,000 years. The conversation also touches on the characteristics of ancient skulls found in North America, which exhibit primitive features similar to Neandertals, suggesting possible interactions between Neandertal lineages and early modern humans. Additionally, there is speculation about the existence of a much earlier "missing link" between primitive apes and more advanced hominids like Australopithecus, which remains a significant gap in understanding human evolution.
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A typical timeline for hominids is summarized http://www.wsu.edu/gened/learn-modules/top_longfor/timeline/timeline.html

Of the hominid lineage leading to modern human, only those listed have been verified with anthropological and archeological scrutiny. However there are large gaps of time with no intermediates found thus far, between the hominids listed. What might they look like? The idea is tantalizing.

Recently a hominid has been found in a dig headed by Dr Sileshi Semaw in Ethiopia, that may may prove to be an intermediate (500,000-250,000 yrs) between Homo erectus (2,000,000-400,000yrs) and Homo sapiens (400,000yrs-present). See ref1 and at author's research facility ref2
 
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Ouabache said:
A typical timeline for hominids is summarized http://www.wsu.edu/gened/learn-modules/top_longfor/timeline/timeline.html

Of the hominid lineage leading to modern human, only those listed have been verified with anthropological and archeological scrutiny. However there are large gaps of time with no intermediates found thus far, between the hominids listed. What might they look like? The idea is tantalizing.

Recently a hominid has been found in a dig headed by Dr Sileshi Semaw in Ethiopia, that may may prove to be an intermediate (500,000-250,000 yrs) between Homo erectus (2,000,000-400,000yrs) and Homo sapiens (400,000yrs-present). See ref1 and at author's research facility ref2

Whenever I was fortunate or unfortunate enough to come across a burial ground of Nishga or ancient (4000 to 6000 ybc) Kwaquitl or Salish Nation peoples it was alway emphatically pointed out to me (a freshman to archaeology at the time) that the skull was "primitive" in that it had a heavy brow not unlike that of the "Neandertal" skull illustrated in your link.

It is possible that it was a Neandertal lineage that populated the NW area as far back as 25,000 years (see Bluefish Caves data) that may have, perhaps, co-mingled with a migrating or trading lineage of "Cro-Magnon" type peoples from the east of NA (see Clovis data).

Personally I believe the "missing link" is much further in the past, between the "plains ape" or "grassland apes" and a more cognitive "Australopithecus ramidus" or "Australopithecus afarensis". This link... as I understand it, is the more puzzling and missing piece of evidence in the evolution of the homo sapien sapien.. yes yes?
 
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