The year is 2013, and we know more than ever about human evolution. Most recently, technological breakthroughs in the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) has given us fascinating new insights into how we came to be, and has illuminated our controversial relationship with Neanderthals. It is an exciting time to study human evolution by all accounts.
But during my 21st century odyssey to study the fossil record, I ran head-long into a frustrating 19th century problem - data from fossil finds are guarded jealously by academics instead of being rendered public for all to see and interpret.
These days human fossils are increasingly being repatriated to their countries of origin on the basis that they are a rightful part of a nations patrimony. While a noble effort, this too can have the effect of further reducing access to fossil data. (Can afford a trip to East Africa? Great! Hope they're not having a civil war now!) Let's take this idea one step further: human fossils are undeniably the patrimony of all of humanity, and should therefore be "repatriated" to a place where everyone can see/study/marvel at/ all of the relevant data.
Let's create a website that has 3D scans, photographs, drawings, and interpretations of all of the human fossils discovered in the last 150 years. Current technology would make this a relatively easy task. All that is needed is a genuine desire to share knowledge.
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