Ashland – The Documentary Film & Discussion Series will show the film, Human Evolution (60 min.), Thursday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the Ashland Public Library Community Room, 66 Front St. Admission is free, and viewers are invited to stay for discussion. All ages and all points of view are welcome. The Documentary Film Series is sponsored by The Friends of the Ashland Library.
Human Evolution is the first film in a seven-part mini-series. In just the past 40 years, spectacular fossil finds have yielded astounding information about early humans. Just last August, three new fossil finds from Lake Turkana in Kenya were announced by Maeve and Louise Leakey, members of the famous fossil-hunting family. It is now known there were many early species of the genus Homo. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved through vigorous, complex experimentation with multiple species, not a straight lineage as had been previously surmised.
The new fossil finds announced last August were dated at 1.83 and 1.95 million years. They tend to confirm the existence of a distinctive type of early human known as H. rudolphensis. Four well-known paleoanthropologists lead viewers on a fascinating short course in early human evolution.
On hand to help lead the discussion will be guest Leah Marshquist of Transition Ashland (www.transitionashland.org), an effort to strengthen local economy and community, and Christine Fletcher, Ashland high school science teacher.
In its eighth season at the Ashland Library, the Documentary Film & Discussion Series meets every second Thursday and fourth Tuesday of the month for an in-depth look at important topics of our day. For more information, call the library at 508-881-0134, or visit www.friendsoftheapl.com.
