8 replies to this topic

[brizink]

So a while back I watched a special on Animal Planet or one of those nature channels, and the theory was raised that a surviving group of Homoheidelbergensis could potentially be responsible for the sasquatch/bigfoot myth. I was intrigued and did a little research and I think it may be in the realm of possibility. What are some of your thoughts and theories? Including other veins of thought.

Edited by brizink, 13 June 2012 - 05:02 AM.

[Mr. Zero]

Are you focusing on the North American phenomenon; or including the Yeti, Yowie, and other world-wide sightings, as well?

Personally, I think the Sasquatch/Bigfoot/Abominal Snowman is a mental phenomenon. I don't mean a figment of imagination or delusion, but rather an interpretation or effect of elements and/or energies in the environment. Perhaps sentient, perhaps not. I think this explains why no bodies are ever found, because there are no physical bodies. In fact, I think most paranormal experiences are mental translations of some kind of phenomenon we don't understand, yet. There are so many similarities and overlapping effects (poltergiest activity during UFO flaps, for instance), that I think all supernatural activity comes from one source. It's just interpereted differently by many people.

I'm derailing your thread, though. Could they be an ancient breed of Homoheidelbergensis? I'm no expert, but I would expect to see more evidence of simple tool use and rudimentary society. Everything that I've read about BF indicates that, if it is some kind of primate, it hasn't developed as far as Homoheidelbergensis.

[psyche101]

I do not see how or why Homoheidelbergensis requires the stealth purported.

Edited by psyche101, 13 June 2012 - 07:58 AM.

[Leonardo]

H. heidelbergensis would be a poor candidate for Sasquatch.

Firstly, there is a huge physical discrepancy between the two. H. heidelbergensis was roughly the same stature as we are, although a bit stockier in general build. That is to say, on average under six feet in height. Sasquatch is said to be anything from 7 feet to 9 feet tall (some reports are even more exaggerated).

H. heidelbergensis was also, like us, largely furless while Sasquatch is reportedly completely covered in fur except for regions of the face.

H. heidelbergensis built dwellings (very crude) of stone and wood, while Sasquatch is reported to build 'nests' of branches. H. heidelbergensis had spear technology and, most importantly, used fire. Sasquatch reportedly has neither of these capabilities.

[brizink]

Well I think you both make very good points, but I'm not fully convinced heidelbergensis was as fur/hairless as we are. As for the stature thing; we humans tend to exaggerate so if what was witnessed was six to seven feet tall, we almost instinctively would report 8+ feet in height... to answer your question I am referring to.the north American phenomenon. I feel like the Asian version has some things in common with Gigantopithicus and could verywell be related to such a beast. If these creatures do in fact exist. The bones and other remains question seems rather answered as far as I'm concerned but I'm becoming convinced that perhaps we are experiencing some mass delusion of sorts when it comes to paranormal experiences particularly alien abductions... and I'm following the new rails you laid down by saying that but I figured I would put it out there. Maybe Sasquatch is like what some of our native American cousins have said for centuries; an idea, a state of mind brought on by the forest. Only discrepancy with this theory is bedroom window sightings and near urban close calls on the highway and of course the Patterson-Gimlin film.

[Abramelin]

Leonardo, on 13 June 2012 - 09:33 AM, said:

H. heidelbergensis would be a poor candidate for Sasquatch.

Firstly, there is a huge physical discrepancy between the two. H. heidelbergensis was roughly the same stature as we are, although a bit stockier in general build. That is to say, on average under six feet in height. Sasquatch is said to be anything from 7 feet to 9 feet tall (some reports are even more exaggerated).

H. heidelbergensis was also, like us, largely furless while Sasquatch is reportedly completely covered in fur except for regions of the face.

H. heidelbergensis built dwellings (very crude) of stone and wood, while Sasquatch is reported to build 'nests' of branches. H. heidelbergensis had spear technology and, most importantly, used fire. Sasquatch reportedly has neither of these capabilities.

A few weeks ago I read an article about Heidelbergensis in I think Spain, and they were indeed of our height or smaller.

However, if the next still stands, things were different in South Africa:


Our Story: Human Ancestor Fossils

Professor Lee Burger, University of Witwatersrand

One of the fantastic opportunities we had in South Africa was to visit the collection of fossils at Witwatersrand University. They have a collection of about 30% of the fossils found in Africa that tell us about how we evolved from ape-like creatures into modern humans.  Professor Lee Berger took us though some of the highlights of the collection, piecing together three million years of evolution in the process.  One of the most interesting things that the fossil record reveals is that we went through a period of extreme giantism. These were people routinely over 7ft tall, they were huge.  This was before we turned into the modern humans of today.

Lee - You’ve probably heard the myth that ancient humans were tiny and some of them were tiny.  But, as we moved through the period of 0.5 million to 300,000 years ago in Africa we move into the sort of mystery period where there’s just a tiny handful of fossils.  The ones we find from that part are incredibly intriguing.  By this time you’re going to begin seeing Neanderthals in Europe.  Inside of Africa they go through one of the most incredible things that we’ve only just begun to realise.  They go through a period of giantism.  What I’m pulling out of this bag may shock you!

Chris - What we’re looking at is the most enormous femur: the bit that forms your hip joint. That’s huge.  As a doctor I know how big they normally are, that’s huge.

Lee - They are huge.  That’s so big we can’t even calculate how big this individual was. You would need an NBA basketball player to get someone of the height someone like this would have been.  Something like over 7 feet tall.

Chris - You don’t think this one’s just an abnormality?

Lee - No because we found a lot of them.  Everywhere we find them we find them enormous.  These are what we call archaic Homo sapiens.  Some people refer to them as Homo heidelbergensis.  These individuals are extraordinary, they are giants.

http://www.thenakeds.../interview/833/


And about them being furless like modern man: how do we know? Maybe we modern humans are the exception?

[Bavarian Raven]

Quote

So a while back I watched a special on Animal Planet or one of those nature channels, and the theory was raised that a surviving group of Homoheidelbergensis could potentially be responsible for the sasquatch/bigfoot myth. I was intrigued and did a little research and I think it may be in the realm of possibility. What are some of your thoughts and theories? Including other veins of thought.

one of the more interesting theories on the topic - especially in light of the fact they may have survived until quiet recently (at least, according to several findings from last year). but that aside...

(and not to derail), but my theory on Sasquatch (based on what i have read/researched/experienced) is that they are humans that went feral a long time ago (due to being either outcasted due to a physical condition such as Hypertrichosis). It would explain (imho) what is going on. It explains that people are seeing something. It would explain why the DNA samples come back as human (because they are humans that have gone wild). It would explain the legends (and some quiet recent) of Sasquatches stealing women for mates. It would explain their elusiveness. It would explain the lack of definitive physical remains (in my area of the world, human bones are found yearly in the remote back country). etc. etc... but thats just my three cents on the topic. cheers.

Edited by Bavarian Raven, 26 June 2012 - 12:49 AM.

[bitten_by_werewolf]

I believe the bigfoot/sasquatch would most likely be what you seid while the yeti could be a gigantopithecus

[brizink]

Thanks Abremelin, that helps my case a bit... the TV special did say that Heidi was about six feet on average and quite robust. Although many other hominids were smaller than us to varying degrees. I'm not 100% convinced (not without hard science) but it seems legit.