Evidence of Human Evolution, Interpreting

In the fossil human record, the most famous fossil discoveries have been those that provided evidence to either support a current theory, reject a previously supported theory, or that have created new theories about human history. The information that new discoveries provide comes more from the analysis and interpretation of the evidence than from its display in a museum and observation by the public. Although interpretations can vary based on the knowledge and opinions of an individual, they provide meaning for the object. The evidence holds the facts, and it is the interpretation of the evidence that exposes the facts. Over time, as new discoveries continue to fill in the fossil record of human existence, it is not the fossil skeletons and artifacts themselves but the interpretation of the evidence that allows for solution of the puzzle. A fossil, in and of itself, is nothing more than the preserved remains of an organism, but analyzing it and drawing a conclusion from this analysis reveal its true historical footprint. A large portion of our current knowledge is the result of this process of observation, then analysis, followed by interpretation, and finally assumption, deduction, hypothesis, and theory.

Generally, the more complete the specimen, the more information it reveals, but even small partial fossil remains can give an overwhelming amount of data about human history. A simple leg bone can help researchers date the characteristic ability of hominids to stand erect and walk upright on two legs. Even a fractured, partial skull bone can help prove if bipedal walking or the enlargement of the brain arose first in hominids. The morphology is what tells the story. But as interpretations are based on the perceptions and opinions of the individual investigator, they are not infallible. As a result, the theories created from these interpretations are always subject to change over time. As new evidence becomes available, the current theories are either rejected or confirmed; they evolve. It is not uncommon for several interpretations to exist that conflict with each other. Although the interpretation of evidence is not flawless, it is fundamental for the understanding of human evolution. As our only source of information about human evolution, every new piece of evidence is valuable and influential. This is especially true because only a small number of all the hominids that have ever lived on Earth became fossilized, and of those that were, only a fraction have been discovered. But as more evidence is found each year, we develop a better understanding of, and appreciation for, our human evolution.