University of Iowa researchers have carried an advanced facial and cranial biomechanical analysis on nearly 40 people and the conclusion was that the emergence of chin in modern humans arose from simple geometry.
Have you ever asked yourself why human beings have chins and how they came about? You may have been made to believe that they developed as a result of mechanical forces like chewing which is not anywhere being true. It is as a result of evolutionary adaptation that involved face size and shape.
This could be linked to changes in hormone levels as we become increasingly socially domesticated. According to research led by Nathan Holton, who is studying craniofacial features and mechanics at the University of Iowa, a chin is a unique feature a human being.
Holton said that in our evolution from archaic humans to today, our faces became smaller to approximately 15 percent shorter than the Neanderthals. The chin then gained prominence adapting to the pointy emblem at the bottom of our face.
The Human chin is a secondary significance of our lifestyle change according to Robert Franciscus, who is the lead of UI anthropologists. This lifestyle can be traced to 80,000 years ago only to gain steam with time leading to modern humans’ migration from Africa 20,000 years later.
Modern humans were later to evolve from hunter-gatherer groups that had been isolated whereby they formed cooperative groups, which became some social networks. The groups were enhanced and were able to express themselves in artistically and in a more symbolic mediums.
Males were said to be more tranquil event o fight over territory and belongings. Instead, they had more willingness in making alliances. This was evidence by the way they exchanged goods and ideas, which was beneficial to all.
There was a change of attitude as well which was tagged to reduced hormone levels commonly known as testosterone. This led to noticeable changes where the face became smaller and eventually creating a natural opportunity for the emergence of the human chin.
