1期 吴新智:中国古人类进化连续性新辩 that human evolution is a dynamic process where there was a tendency towards more gracile status for various morphological features throughout human evolution, and various features could experience changes due to the effect of genetic processes such as gene exchange with neighboring populations etc So it is ot reasonable to expect morphological features of the descendants to be corapietely similar to those of their ancestors in strength and frequency of trait occurrence. The wEaknesses of the basal tubercle and the curvature on the labial surface in recent Fa t Asian hunan upper incisors does mt ndicate that shovel-shaped incisors could ot b. one of the features supporting the continuity of human evolution in this region. The decreasing frequencies of chignon and suprainiac fossa in Europeans from Neandertal to mdern humans are purt of the dynamic process. Cranial indices of Late Paleolithic Liujiang, Ziyang ard Lijiang skulls are 75.1, 77.4, and 84.4 respectively, whereas those of three Upper Cave skulls are 70.1, 69.4 and 71.2 respectively. The chignon exists in the former three skulls with their shorter vaults and is absent in the latter with their characteristic long skulls These facts disprove the opinion that the chignon is ost likely caused by a mre rapid "posterior growth of the cerebral hemispheres relative to formation of the cranial vault bones". 4) Do ot misinterpret the observation of specimens and opinion of the opposing side. For instance, in the paragraph discussing faces from North China(Dali, Jinniushan, and Yunxian I and II) are somewhat distorted. (p 172). He hinted that the faces of these skulls are ot short as being proposed by anthropologists who advocate the Multiregional mdel as one of the evidence of continuity. But in fact, although skulls from change the status that their upper faces are short. Furthermore, the face of new middle Pleistocene skull from Nanjing is definitely short. 5) The contrast between the presence of mid sagittal keeling mandibular exostosis, pinched na dle and agenesis of third molar in recent East Asians, and their absence in recent African skulls fit better with the Multiregional mdel rather than the Recent Out of Africa mdel. The fossil record suggests that mic- sagittal keeling and mandibular oxpstosis existing in recent East Asians may derive from Homo erectus of Beijing; the pinched nasal saddle may be traced to Maba early H. sapiens skull and Upper Cave skull 101; and the agenesis of the third olar may be related to the Homo erectus mandible from Lantian and Upper Pleistocene skull from Liujiang. To consider the origin of these features in recent Fast Asians as effects of genetic drift during the dispersal out of Africa is less convincible Key words: Evolutionary continuity; Fossil humans; China C1994-2006ChinaAcademicjOurnalElectronicPublishingHouseAllrightsreservedhttp://www.cnkithat human evolution is a dynamic process where there was a tendency towards more gracile status for various morphological features throughout human evolution , and various features could experience changes due to the effect of genetic processes such as gene exchange with neighboring populations etc. So it is not reasonable to expect morphological features of the descendants to be completely similar to those of their ancestors in strength and frequency of trait occurrence. The weaknesses of the basal tubercle and the curvature on the labial surface in recent East Asian human upper incisors does not indicate that shovel2shaped incisors could not be one of the features supporting the continuity of human evolution in this region. The decreasing frequencies of chignon and suprainiac fossa in Europeans from Neandertal to modern humans are part of the dynamic process. Cranial indices of Late Paleolithic Liujiang , Ziyang and Lijiang skulls are 7511 , 7714 , and 8414 respectively , whereas those of three Upper Cave skulls are 7011 , 6914 and 7112 respectively. The chignon exists in the former three skulls with their shorter vaults and is absent in the latter with their characteristic long skulls. These facts disprove the opinion that the chignon is most likely caused by a more rapid“posterior growth of the cerebral hemispheres relative to formation of the cranial vault bones”. 4) Do not misinterpret the observation of specimens and opinion of the opposing side. For instance , in the paragraph discussing “Facial size is a vague character”, Lieberman wrote ,“the four relatively complete archaic fossils with faces from North China (Dali , Jinniushan , and Yunxian Ⅰand Ⅱ) are somewhat distorted. ” (p. 172) . He hinted that the faces of these skulls are not short as being proposed by anthropologists who advocate the Multiregional model as one of the evidence of continuity. But in fact , although skulls from these sites had experienced different degrees of distortion , any correct reconstruction will not change the status that their upper faces are short. Furthermore , the face of new middle Pleistocene skull from Nanjing is definitely short. 5) The contrast between the presence of mid2sagittal keeling , mandibular oxostosis , pinched nasal saddle and agenesis of third molar in recent East Asians , and their absence in recent African skulls fit better with the Multiregional model rather than the Recent Out of Africa model. The fossil record suggests that mid2sagittal keeling and mandibular oxostosis existing in recent East Asians may derive from Homo erectus of Beijing ; the pinched nasal saddle may be traced to Maba early H. sapiens skull and Upper Cave skull 101 ; and the agenesis of the third molar may be related to the Homo erectus mandible from Lantian and Upper Pleistocene skull from Liujiang. To consider the origin of these features in recent East Asians as effects of genetic drift during the dispersal out of Africa is less convincible. Key words: Evolutionary continuity ; Fossil humans ; China 1 期 吴新智 : 中国古人类进化连续性新辩 · 52 ·