Why do we have flat faces?

Just for sake of argument, assume the face competes with other structures for a limited substance in
order to grow. Now, with that in mind, I suggest our faces are flat because the increased brain size
takes more for its growth and development and the face happens to be reduced because of the
competition. This would also explain our smaller teeth.

James Michael Howard www.anthropogeny.com

Don Wiss donwiss@no_spam.com said:

It was pointed out on the PaleoFood mailing list that the reason human females have breasts is
because we have flat faces. And because we are the only mammals with flat faces, we are the only
mammals with protruding breasts. So the question becomes why do we have flat faces?

[moderator's note: So women would have protruding breasts. I mean, duh! - (for the humor
impaired: :-) JAH]

Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

"Don Wiss" <donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It was pointed out on the PaleoFood mailing list that the reason human females have breasts is
because we have flat faces. And because we are the only mammals with flat faces, we are the only
mammals with protruding breasts. So the question becomes why do we have flat faces? Don <donwiss
at panix.com>.

Our ancestors might have found it more appealing as in the case of breast. There could be physical
reasons also because we started walking upright at that time. Language (we might of needed smaller
jaws) and a change of diet might also have influenced facial features.

Lane

Don Wiss <donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote or quoted:

Quoted message said:

It was pointed out on the PaleoFood mailing list that the reason human females have breasts is
because we have flat faces. And because we are the only mammals with flat faces, we are the only
mammals with protruding breasts. So the question becomes why do we have flat faces?

probably somewhat along the lines envisaged by Desmond Morris.

Face shape has practically nothing to do with it.
--
__________
|im |yler timtyler.orgtimtyler.orgOpen ↗ [email hidden] Remove lock to reply.

"Don Wiss" <donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It was pointed out on the PaleoFood mailing list that the reason human females have breasts is
because we have flat faces. And because we are the only mammals with flat faces, we are the only
mammals with protruding breasts. So the question becomes why do we have flat faces?

Is a human face any less flat than an orang's? I think I would disagree.

Peripheral stereoscopic vision is greatly enhanced to the degree that the FOV's (field of view) of
each eye, overlap.

However, the ability of the skeleton to support a broader head might have been enhanced when early
hominins stood up, thus the head was supported on the spinal column instead of the neck muscles.

After that development, perhaps protruding breasts could be selected for.

Frank

Quoted message said:

[moderator's note: So women would have protruding breasts. I mean, duh! - (for the humor impaired:
:-) JAH]

Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

Tim Tyler <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Don Wiss <donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote or quoted:

Quoted message said:

It was pointed out on the PaleoFood mailing list that the reason human females have breasts is
because we have flat faces. And because we are the only mammals with flat faces, we are the only
mammals with protruding breasts. So the question becomes why do we have flat faces?

Quoted message said:

probably somewhat along the lines envisaged by Desmond Morris.

Face shape has practically nothing to do with it.

I think you are right, but to give the question its due:

The possibilities are (1) that flat faces and protruding breasts are unrelated - an example of a
mammal with a flat face and non-protruding breasts would be good evidence. Any takers? (Elephants
don't have flat faces, but might still count as a counter-example)(And how flat is flat - walruses
and capybara are still pretty flat-faced from the standpoint of breastfeeding)

(2) that we developed protruding breasts for the reason suggested by Tim, and that flat faces then
could develop, and did so for other reasons.

(3) that the sequence was as posited by the question - we developed flat faces, and the protruding
breasts are a response.

I think we know when flat faces developed - what I don't know is if the paleontological record is
sufficient to define when protruding breasts developed.

Yours,

Bill Morse