JRE 1561 · November 10, 2020
Kermit Pattison
Who is Kermit Pattison?
Kermit Pattison is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, GQ, Fast Company, Runners World, and many other publications. His new book, Fossil Men: The Quest for the Oldest Skeleton and the Origins of Humankind, is available now. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/fossil-men-kermit-pattison?variant=32117911748642
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Kermit Pattison discusses his book Fossil Men about the search for the oldest human skeleton and what it reveals about human origins
- 02The discovery of Lucy and other early hominid fossils fundamentally changed our understanding of human evolution
- 03Paleoanthropologists use cutting-edge technology like CT scanning and DNA analysis to study ancient remains
- 04The competition and drama between fossil hunters in Ethiopia and other locations shaped major discoveries in the field
- 05Early human ancestors showed surprising complexity in tool use, social behavior, and adaptation to their environments
- 06The fossil record still has massive gaps and mysteries about how humans actually evolved from earlier primates
- ▶Introduction to Fossil Men and the search for human origins0:00:00
- ▶Discussing the discovery of Lucy and what her skeleton reveals about early hominids0:15:00
- ▶The drama and competition between fossil hunters in Ethiopia0:35:00
- ▶Modern technology used to study ancient fossils and extract information0:55:00
- ▶Gaps in the fossil record and what we still don't know about human evolution1:15:00
The Show
Joe Rogan sits down with journalist Kermit Pattison to discuss his book Fossil Men, which tells the incredible story of the hunt for humanity's oldest ancestors. Pattison brings the drama and intrigue of paleoanthropology to life, explaining how scientists have pieced together our evolutionary history through fossil discoveries.
The conversation centers on some of the most important fossil finds in human history. Pattison walks through the discovery of Lucy, one of the most famous early hominids, and what her skeleton told us about how our ancestors moved and lived millions of years ago. The book explores the real human competition and sometimes cutthroat nature of fossil hunting, where scientists race to make discoveries that could rewrite our understanding of human origins.
Pattison explains the modern techniques paleoanthropologists use to study ancient remains, from detailed measurements to CT scanning technology that allows researchers to see inside bones without damaging them. Joe is fascinated by how much information scientists can extract from fragmentary skeletal remains and how they determine the age and relationships between different species.
The discussion touches on the gaps in the fossil record and how new discoveries are constantly challenging previous assumptions about human evolution. Pattison emphasizes that the story of human origins is far more complex and surprising than many people realize, with our ancestors showing unexpected abilities and behaviors. The conversation reflects on how scientific understanding evolves as new evidence emerges and how the personalities and rivalries of scientists have shaped which discoveries get celebrated and remembered.
Best Quotes
“The fossil record is like a puzzle with most of the pieces missing, but each new discovery changes how we see the whole picture”
— Kermit Pattison
From the JRE 1561 conversation with Kermit Pattison.
“These scientists were willing to risk everything, go to remote dangerous places, all for the chance to find something that would make their name in history”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1561 conversation with Kermit Pattison.
“Lucy showed us that our ancestors were walking upright millions of years before they had big brains like we do”
— Kermit Pattison
From the JRE 1561 conversation with Kermit Pattison.
“When you hold a fossil that's three million years old, you're touching actual history of your own family”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1561 conversation with Kermit Pattison.
“The story of human evolution is messier and more complicated than the simple narrative most people learned in school”
— Kermit Pattison
From the JRE 1561 conversation with Kermit Pattison.
Mentioned in This Episode
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