The Dark Ages of the Apes: Raymond Dart and the Fathers of the Savannah Hypothesis
Open Access DepositedRaymond Dart’s publication of the first Australopithecus fossil allowed scientists to not only understand that human ancestors evolved on the African continent, but also the key features that make us human were a direct result of Africa’s natural climate. Known as the savannah hypothesis, this theory in the latter part of the 20th century was one of the first to encourage paleoanthropologists to think critically about the ways in which our ability to walk upright was intimately related to natural landscapes. In this thesis, I analyze and discuss the development of the savannah hypothesis through time and consider the ways in which Dart’s findings deviated from the popular perceptions of his era. I assert that though few in number, Dart was not alone in his postulations. The names of those peers deserve to join Dart’s for their contributions to the development of the savannah hypothesis.
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