Assessment Questions 1.11

1. What significant fossil discovery related to human evolution was made in 1856, and where was the partial fossil skull found?

In 1856, a partial fossil skull was found in the Neander Valley in Germany. Two similar skulls were found earlier in Europe, representing an ancient and primitive race of humans.

2. How did the discovery of the Neander Valley skull contribute to changing opinions about the antiquity of the human species, and what concept, related to the Earth's history, was already in place at that time?

The Neander Valley skull convinced many of the great antiquity of the human species. The concept of a uniformly changing, very ancient earth was already in place, challenging earlier beliefs in a young Earth.

3. What shift in scientific opinion occurred regarding the age of the Earth and the human species, and what role did the evidence from fossils play in this shift?

Scientists began to view the Earth and the human species as ancient, far older than previously believed (Ussher's 5,700 years). Fossil evidence, including the Neander Valley skull, played a crucial role in this shift.