| Fenno F.J.M. Noij |
THESE BONES WERE MADE FOR JOGGING
AN ANALYSIS OF THE LOWER LIMB SKELETAL
EVIDENCE FOR THE ENDURANCE RUNNING
HYPOTHESIS
Kim P. Deckers
Leiden University
Abstract
The endurance running hypothesis proposes that the anatomical features observed in the genus Homo
evolved to increase long distance running capabilities. Proponents of this theory argue that the need for
nutrient-dense high quality food packages to sustain a larger brain and body size would require Homo to
a suite of anatomical features that would allow running over sustained periods of time. This paper inves-
tigates the skeletal indicators associated with endurance running within the fossil hominin archaeological
record. Data on the character of these skeletal indicators in Plio-Pleistocene hominins was analysed from
the literature. A complete suite of anatomical features related to endurance running is not seen until Homo
ergaster at 1.8 million years ago. However, a mosaic of these features is present in earlier Australopiths.
This, combined with the lac k of evidence for long range projectile weapons in the Pleistocene, indicates
notion that anatomical changes observed in early Homo evolved to increase running capabilities.
Keywords
Hominin Fossil Record, Evolutionary Morphology, Plio-Pleistocene, Locomotion, Hunting Strategies
Email: [email protected]
Academia: https://leidenuni.academia.edu/KimDeckers
I
ntroduction
The endurance running hypothesis poses that
early members of the genus Homo developed
the ability to run over long distances and periods
of time. Although poor sprinters compared to other
mammalian species (Cavanagh and Kram 1989,
469), humans are more adept at long distance
or endurance running. This type of running can
only be sustained at speeds ranging from 2.5 – 6
m/s -1 (Cavanagh and Kram 1989, 469), but can
Sprinting animals lack the ability to sustain their
speed over longer periods of time, making it
necessary for them to stop intermittently to cool
down before the next sprint (Bramble and Carrier
1983, 253; Garland 1983, 166). The endurance
running hypothesis proposes that early hominins
developed the ability for long distance running
to take advantage of this fact, which would have
made it possible to hunt wild game into overheating
(Bramble and Lieberman 2004, 351; Carrier 1984,
486; Lieberman et al. 2006, 77). This in turn would
allow hominins to acquire the prime portions of meat
before other animals would encroach to scavenge
the remaining meat (Lieberman et al. 2006, 78).
During the early Pleistocene several hominin species
inhabited the African landscape. During this time
2017 | INTER-SECTION | VOL III | p.7