Physical Modifications of the Body

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True Likely Speculative

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Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes":

Absolute Difference

MOCA Domain:

Culture

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Physical modification of the body, typically in culturally standardized ways and often for esthetic purposes, is very widespread if not universal. Physical modification occurs in non-human primates in both captivity and the wild, and is known as self-decoration. It is not common, but present.

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Timing

Timing of Appearance of the Difference in the Hominin Lineage.

For this entry assume that

the common ancestor of humans and old world monkeys was 25000 thousand (25 million) years ago
the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was 6000 thousand (6 million) years ago
the emergence of the genus Homo was 2000 thousand (2 million) years ago
the common ancestor of modern humans was 100 thousand years ago

Definite Appearance:

100 Thousand Years

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