Running and Evolution

[Robert Allison]

Originally Posted by Dave Van Skike

I would expect as much variability in frame size in pre-paleo folks as there is in the current crop of hominids based on climate as much as anything.

That's pretty much where I was going. When looking at contemporary hunter-gathers (when & where still extant), there are size variations, depending on environment and resource availability. The same is true when we look at the archeological record.

My thinking was that muscles are calorically expensive...

Good observation. One might make the case that how the muscles were used might justify the "expense," but, in any case, I tend to think it would be rare to find musculature comparable to that of a modern strength athlete.

Great conversation.

[Neal Winkler]

Well, the little I've looked into it so far, I think the average HG from the upper paleolithic was about 5'9" and 156lbs. But I seen another study that showed extrapolation of body mass from the skeletons seems to be underestimated by about 9%.

[Steve Liberati]

Impeccable timing (or mabe Art was inspired by our thread?)

http://www.arthurdevany.com/2007/04/..._as_runne.html

[Robb Wolf]

Originally Posted by Dave Van Skike

I would expect as much variability in frame size in pre-paleo folks as there is in the current crop of hominids based on climate as much as anything.

My thinking was that muscles are calorically expensive, being big (fat or meaty) is rarely a positive when you are paying(hunting) your own food.

Dave-
both devany and cordain have mentioned less variation in height among HG's, due most likely o similar food supply and thus similar phenotypic expression.

[Robert Allison]

Originally Posted by Robb Wolf

Dave-
both devany and cordain have mentioned less variation in height among HG's, due most likely o similar food supply and thus similar phenotypic expression.

Do DeVany and Cordain mention any variations in weight? Also, was the lack of variation in height derived from a study of current day H-Gs, or on evidence from the archeological record?

Just curious...

[Dave Van Skike]

Interesting. I need to look back at the comparison of som of the earlier homnids like to robustus to see what the size differenfce is attributed to there.

The vany article is interesting in it's own way.

[Robb Wolf]

Originally Posted by Robert Allison

Do DeVany and Cordain mention any variations in weight? Also, was the lack of variation in height derived from a study of current day H-Gs, or on evidence from the archeological record?

Just curious...

Robert-
Not sure on any of that...I will try to follow up but I've been buried of late...just going from memory!

[James Evans]

This is an interesting suggestion but is ultimately hypothesis.

All you Creationist CrossFitters look away now.

I take this to mean that we evolved on to two legs for this reason. Correct me if I misunderstand.

There are many theories for why we are two legged (originally) none of which are fully proved. These include diverse ideas such as the move away from arboreal habitats (ie the motherf*ckin' jungle) left us more exposed to the sun and upright stance reduces this or another theory that our early ancestors where semi-marine in nature and being bipedal assisted them in foraging along the shore (quite contraversial that one).

Ultimately the suggestion is that tool manipulation came later.


Dr Mike Stroud's 'Survival of the Fittest' is a very good read on this subject and indeed on others (including endurance, rhabdo and nutrition).

[Garrett Smith]

I get so tired of people saying that our bipedal design is inherently "flawed" and that's why we have back problems, etc.

It's people getting fat and lazy that's the problem.

And no, I don't believe the desire to "exercise" is natural. The need to exercise is a byproduct of our ability to create things that take away nearly all need for manual labors in our daily lives. Combine fat, lazy, and disjointed exercise approaches (ie. BBing and machine hamster-wheel cardio) and you've got a big human mess.

[R. Alan Hester]

What do you think of these yahoos. I am sure you have seen this before, but it seems to fit into this conversation. maybe?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...all_fours.html