Evolution, Bipedalism, and Precision Throwing in Hominids

http://www.ijlera.com/papers/v9-i6/3.202406681A.pdf
International Journal of Latest Engineering
Research and Applications (IJLERA) ISSN: 2455-7137
Volume – 09, Issue – 06, June 2024, PP – 15-21
Abstract:
The evolution of powerful and precise throwing
developed a means of defense and attack that
enabled hominins to colonize the savanna,
occupy a new ecological niche, and become
hunter-gatherers, essentially becoming humans.
The first achievement occurred when the
bipedalism and hand structure of
Australopithecus allowed for throwing that
was powerful and precise enough to defend
against predators when venturing into open
fields to exploit resources. Subsequently,
the precision grip and more complex motor
skills in H. habilis developed throwing as a
means to compete, at least occasionally, for
carrion with savanna predators, similar to
how Hadza women use wooden digging sticks to
drive off a leopard from its fresh kill.
Finally, H. ergaster specialized in throwing,
acquiring the most favorable anthropometry
for maximum performance, with modifications
in the glenohumeral joint, longer legs,
shorter forearms, and optimal weight and
height, which made it a hunter-gatherer of
the savanna and its Homo descendants
colonizers of all the Earth's emergent lands.
"The powerful one-handed throwing of
relatively light objects reaches its
pinnacle in athletic competitions, where we
see burly men and women throwing javelins,
hammers, discs, or shots to record distances
unmatched by any other animal. This ability
is unique to Homo sapiens, as no other
animal can perform this action with such
power."