Proto-Eurasians

[Condraz23]

Hi everyone. I have a few questions...

The human race has experienced a variety of different migrations in the past. Genetically and morphologically, the Asians are our closest cousins. We diverged from them at around 38,000 BC, which is an extremely small period of time in an evolutionary scale. According to current scientific knowledge, shortly after they diverged from us, they diverged again into East Asians and Amerindians. The Amerindians soon migrated to America where they became our modern American Indians.

So the most recent common ancester of both Caucasians and Asians lived during 38,000 BC. Judging from skin color, both Caucasians and Asians have a very light skin tone. So did the Proto-Eurasians have light skin color as well?

Is it possible to reconstruct a Proto-Eurasian language or culture? I suspect that they would've lived in caves back then because this was still 30,000 years before the discovery of agriculture.

What did the Proto-Eurasians look like? What did they eat?

Another question. Why did humans suddenly experience an agricultural revolution at roughly 10,000 years ago? What was the trigger that spread the discovery so fast across the globe? And why didn't the discovery reach the various tribes of Africa?

Where can I find more information about the Proto-Eurasians? I can't seem to find anything interesting from the Internet. They seem like a very interesting and intriguing group of people. I would love to learn more about them.

Please note that I do not believe in the biological definition of race and I am only speaking in sociological terms. I am strongly against racism in any form.

 

[livemusic]

I think you should move this to the Ask GTPlanet section. Man, you really like making threads.

 

[Joey D]

As an aspiring archaeologist I can give you my views on this, there isn't a solid theory on any of this though because we just haven't had enough time to dig.

Skin colour comes from the environment around you and a person evolves from that. The earliest hominids were black skinned (which is why the thought whites are superior is rubbish) because they lived in the sunny reaches of the African continent. Well we assume that's where hominids first arose, granted there are many theories on that but the "Out of Africa" one is the widest accept on as far as I know. The melanin in a person's skin protects them from the UV light, as one theory goes, hence why closer you get to the equator the darker people tend to get.

Skin tone evolution is also part of sexual selection, face it many people today find a tanned person more attractive then someone who is pasty white. However, this can not really be proven when looking way back in the past.

I can't really say what the Proto-Eurasians would have looked like because I haven't done sufficient reading on North and South American migration to really know. I would guess since they did come from a colder climate they would have been more towards the yellow white side of the scale.

Is it possible to reconstruct a Proto-Eurasian language or culture? I suspect that they would've lived in caves back then because this was still 30,000 years before the discovery of agriculture.

Yes, archaeologist have recreated some of it. They didn't have a written language as most early civilization didn't. Yes they did live in caves, there are archeology sites in northern Europe that show this, but in the more arctic areas they more then likely had some sort of igloo type of a house. Once again we don't really know. There is also evidence for shanty like dwells through post holes found around some of the sites.

What did they eat?

They were hunters and gathers, so pretty much whatever they could catch with a spear and stone arrowheads. There were various plants and berries they ate as well. It wasn't a very sophisticated diet, but it did the job.

Why did humans suddenly experience an agricultural revolution at roughly 10,000 years ago?

*sigh* A question that has had archaeologists in a quandary for ages. Many believe it was accidental. David Rindos is a supporter of this theory. Basically people had a small settlement where they would go out and gather plants and return to the settlement. Along the way they would drop seed which eventually grew up along there paths, they learned they could plant these seeds and increase there growth.

The earliest known domesticated plant is figs with wheat and barley following.

Other theories include Gordon Childe's "Oasis Theory" stating people set up settlement around oasis and plants developed.

Robert Braidwood's "Nuclear Zone" which says the more familiar people got with plants and animals, the easier it was for them to dominate them.

Louis Binford's "Packing Model" says an increase in population demanded a great supply of food so people planted in order to increase their yeild.

There are many others but those are just a few of them is a very short hand over view.

Where can I find more information about the Proto-Eurasians?

Your best bet is to take an Anthropology course in college, they offer the most insight. But I'll look through my books and get back to you with some reading. Also Archeology Magazine often has articles about all sorts of things along these lines.

This is the book I'm currently using for one of my courses, it's full of a ton of information and hopefully I'll be able to get through all of it.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0500285314/?tag=gtplanet-20

These two websites are helpful
www.anthropology.net
www.archaeology.org

Also I recommend watching shows like Digging for the Truth and Engineering and Empire, both are fantastic and give a down to earth look at things. The Discovery Channel (if you get it) has a ton of programs about these sorts of things.



If you have any more questions I'll be happy to help.