Expert: Ralph Salier - 3/8/2006

Question
Hi, my name is Nicole and i am a senior at Shaler Area High School in Pittsburgh Pa.  We were given an assignment to think up a burning question and find an expert who can answer it.  We will then make it into a book and put it in our library for everyone to use.  My burning question is:

Exactly how tall was the very first man?

and how have we as human beings evolved over time.  Have we gotten taller or shorter?  Thinner or widder?

I would like to thank you in advance for helping me with this project.

Answer
Hi Nicole,

I am honored that you chose me as your expert.  

The very first "person" of our species, Homo Sapien Sapien probably stood about 5 feet tall, give or take a few inches.  Since we do not have his/her bones, I can not say for certian how tall this person was.  However, we do have some very early bones from our species from Africa and the Middle East and these showed that we were in this range.  Some bones from just a little later are a little bit taller which may be due to improved diet or other environmental requirements to which we adapted.

Modern humans have adapted into many sizes and shapes depending on the environment in which we live.  Pygmies (under 4' tall) in the African Rain Forest to the Watutsi also in Africa who are generally over 6' tall.  You have the "Barrel Chested" Sherpas and Andean peoples who have evolved larger lungs to live in the very high altitudes of the Andes and Himalayas.  Hair and eye color also evolved to meet environmental and cultural requirements.  And we are still evolving.  

Today, in our multi cultural, multi ethnic society, we have the "mixing" of many different "types" and this will lead  to additional changes and adaptations.  

I hope this helps,  Good luck on your project.