Thailand Finding of Primate Remains Backs Simultaneous Evolution Theory

The discovery of ancient primate remains in Thailand suggests that humanity’s closest cousins developed in several different places at once, Thai and French scientists reported Wednesday. The findings could strengthen the argument that humans evolved separately in several places at once, rather than only in Africa, the researchers said.

The scientists report in the Jan. 30 issue of Nature that a 35-million-year-old jawbone and teeth represented the remains of a primate weighing between 13 and 15 pounds. They said their discovery of Siamopithecus eocaenus showed that “Southeast Asia has definitely played a key role in the early evolution of anthropoids.”