According to UMKC history professor William B. Ashworth Jr., 1859 was a big year for science. That's when two revolutionary ideas took hold: Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and the notion that humans are ancient inhabitants of the Earth. "If one believes that humans are ancient and hunted mammoths and made stone tools, one is said to believe in human antiquity," Ashworth says. He also acts as a consultant at Linda Hall Library (5109 Cherry, 816-363-4600) and has curated the library's new exhibit
Blade and Bone: The Discovery of Human Antiquity, which presents — through replicas of ancient skulls, 14 wall panels depicting battles between ancient men and cave bears, and some of the first photos of Neanderthals ever published — a view into prehistory that dispels the notion that humans just popped up one day. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. and is free, but tickets are required. See
lindahall.org/events for reservations.
— Crystal K. Wiebe
816-363-4600
