"All the World's a Stage We Pass Through" R. Ayana

Sunday 10 May 2015

Zana – A Missing Link Found?


Zana – A Missing Link Found?

DNA Evidence Suggests Captured Russian Ape Woman Might Have been Subspecies of Modern Human



Could Zana have been from a surviving species of pre-human hominids, like 'Lucy', Australopithecus Afarensis?
Could Zana have been from a surviving species of pre-human hominids, like “Lucy”, Australopithecus Afarensis? Jason Kuffer/Flickr

 




The story of Zana, supposed Ape Woman of the Caucasus Mountains, is one often revisited and reexamined by historians, explorers, and scientists alike. Now a leading geneticist believes that the wild woman who lived in 19th century Russia may have belonged to a subspecies of modern humans.

Zana was named by Russian researchers after her discovery and capture in the Ochamchir region of Abkhazia, south of Russia in the 1850’s. She was said to have been living in the wilderness, naked, but covered in a thick auburn fur, and appearing to be a cross between a human and primate.

According to International Business Times, Bryan Sykes, former Professor of Human Genetics at University of Oxford has analyzed the DNA of Zana’s descendants and has discovered West African genes, but surprisingly, her DNA did not match any known modern African group.


Sykes theorizes that her ancestors may have lived in the Caucasus Mountains for generations after leaving Africa over 100,000 years ago.

Saliva tests were carried out on Zana’s living relatives, and a tooth was available from the remains of her deceased son Khwit, reports MailOnline.


The beautiful but remote mountainous terrain of Abkhazia where Zana was found.
The beautiful but remote mountainous terrain of Abkhazia where Zana was found.  Wikimedia Commons


The findings are controversial. Skeptics question the sources of the samples, and Sykes’ methodology.

This comes after the geneticist’s involvement in other high-profile cases dealing with disputed DNA samples and conclusions. In 2014 Sykes and colleagues published a study on their findings of mitochondrial 12S RNA sequencing in samples of “anomalous primates”, popularly called Yetis. The team concluded the samples connected the legend of the Yeti with a Paleolithic polar bear.

Zana’s existence seems to be established historically by witnesses and residents of Abkhazia, yet experts wrestle with her background and biological identity—was she simply a victimized woman suffering from a disability, or a runaway slave, or even a surviving Neanderthal?

Said to resemble cryptid legends from around the world, the hairy humanoid reportedly towered over her captors at six feet and six inches tall, and was described as incredibly muscular, powerful and “wild”. Zana was eventually sold to a local nobleman and resided at his estate until her death. She was “tamed” and forced into relationships with local men, and witnesses said she gave birth to several children who were “human” in appearance, reports Inquisitr. It is these descendants whose DNA was involved in the study.

Skull said to have belonged to Zana's son Kehwit.
Skull said to have belonged to Zana’s son Kehwit. (Source)


Known sons include Dzhanda and Khwit Genaba (born 1878 and 1884), and two daughters, Kodzhanar and Gamasa Genaba (born 1880 and 1882). Khwit’s skull was said to appear atypical, and anthropologist M.A.Kolodieva described it as “closest to the Neolithic Vovnigi II skulls of the fossil series.”
Sykes has published a book, The Nature of the Beast, detailing the story of Zana and her descendants. However according to Tech Times, speaking on the genetic analysis results, Sykes says “They will be published in the regular scientific press so I can't be more specific.”

Zana reportedly died in 1890, but her anomalous genetic legacy endures as an enigma that has yet to be accounted for and resolved. 




 

 


Was 19th Century apewoman a yeti? 6ft 6in Russian serf who could outrun a horse was 'not human', according to DNA tests

 

  • Witnesses said Zana the apewoman had the 'characteristics of a wild animal'
  • She was allegedly trapped in Caucusus mountains and covered in thick hair
  • Had 'enormous athletic power' and she could infamously outrun a horse
  • A genetics professor has analysed DNA of six of her living descendants



Hundreds of explorers, theorists and fantasists have spent their lives searching for the infamous 'big-foot'. But a leading geneticist believes he has found evidence to prove that it - or rather she - could have been more than a myth.

Professor Bryan Sykes of the University of Oxford claims a towering woman named Zana who lived in 19th Century Russia - and appeared to be 'half human, half ape' - could have been the fabled yeti.

Witnesses described the six-foot, six-inches tall woman discovered in the Caucasus mountains between Georgia and Russia as having 'all the characteristics of a wild animal' - and covered in thick auburn hair.

Historic: A leading genetecist claims a towering woman named Zana (artist's representation) who lived in 19th Century Russia - and appeared to be 'half human, half ape' - could have been the fabled yeti
Historic: A leading genetecist claims a towering woman named Zana (artist's representation) who lived in 19th Century Russia - and appeared to be 'half human, half ape' - could have been the fabled yeti


Proof: DNA evidence from Zana's granddaughter (left) and the remains of her son Khwit (right) seemed proved that Zana was of African descent even though she lived in the wild Caucusus
Proof: DNA evidence from Zana's granddaughter (left) and the remains of her son Khwit (right) seemed proved that Zana was of African descent even though she lived in the wild Caucusus

 Proof: DNA evidence from Zana's granddaughter (left) and the remains of her son Khwit (right) seemed to prove that Zana was of African descent even though she lived in the wild Caucusus


Wild: Zana was discovered and trapped by a local merchant who hired a group of hunters to hunt her down in the region of Ochamchir - and she was eventually tamed by a nobleman on his estate in Tkhina
Wild: Zana was discovered and trapped by a local merchant who hired a group of hunters to hunt her down in the region of Ochamchir - and she was eventually tamed by a nobleman on his estate in Tkhina


Treacherous: It is thought Zana roamed the remote Caucusus mountains, where Sykes says her African ancestors lived for many generations
Treacherous: It is thought Zana roamed the remote Caucusus mountains, where Sykes says her African ancestors lived for many generations


Trapped: A merchant found Zana in the Ochamchir region of western Georgia and after hunters caught her, they placed her in a ditch surrounded by sharp spikes
Trapped: A merchant found Zana in the Ochamchir region of western Georgia and after hunters caught her, they placed her in a ditch surrounded by sharp spikes


Mythical: Witnesses described the six-foot, six-inches tall woman as having 'all the characteristics of a wild animal' (fabled 'big-foot' pictured)


Experts believe the wandering 'Wild Woman' was found lurking in the remote region of Ochamchir in the Republic of Abkhazia.

She was captured by a local merchant in the 1850s who hired a group of hunters to subdue and shackle her in the mountainous terrain.

Professor Sykes claims Zana was kept in a 'ditch surrounded by sharpened spikes' and sold from owner to owner until she came to serve nobleman Edgi Genaba as a servant.


Famously known as the ape woman, Zana had at least four children by local men and some of her descendants still live in the region, the Times reported. 

Sykes made an astonishing discovery when he carried out saliva tests on six of her living relatives and the tooth of her deceased son Khwit.

The DNA analysis revealed that they all contained the right amount of African DNA for Zana the ape woman to be '100 per cent African' but remarkably she did not resemble any known group.  

Yeti DNA has also been linked to ancient polar bear.



Discovery: Professor Bryan Sykes of the University of Oxford analysed the DNA of her living relatives in the Caucuses region and found west-African genes
Discovery: Professor Bryan Sykes of the University of Oxford analysed the DNA of her living relatives in the Caucuses region and found west-African genes


Myth? The first accounts of the Yeti emerged before the 19th century from Buddhists who believed that the creature inhabited the Himalayas
Myth? The first accounts of the Yeti emerged before the 19th century from Buddhists who believed that the creature inhabited the Himalayas


Her resemblance was that of a wild beast - 'the most frightening feature of which was her expression which was pure animal,' one Russian zoologist wrote in 1996.

The man who organised various eyewitness accounts of Zana wrote: 'Her athletic power was enormous. 

Evidence: In his book 'Nature of the Best', Sykes argues that Zana could be the yeti
Evidence: In his book 'Nature of the Best', Sykes argues that Zana could be the yeti


She would outrun a horse and swim across the Moskva river even when it rose in violent high tide.' 

Some have argued that she was a runaway Ottoman slave but Professor Sykes says her 'unparalleled DNA' refutes that theory.

He believes her ancestors came out of Africa over 100,000 years ago and lived in the remote Caucasus for many generations.

Zana was eventually 'tamed' by the nobleman who bought her as a servant and kept her on his estate in Tkhina in the Republic of Abkhazia.

Accounts from the time claim she was incredibly muscular, slept outdoors and ran around naked until she died on the estate in 1890. 

Some of his colleagues doubt his other findings - which include a claim that an unknown species of bear might account for yeti sightings in Bhutan. 

Despite the lack of hard proof from the analysis of the alleged 'yeti hairs', he says he has developed a strong sense that 'something is out there' after speaking to dozens of witnesses. 

Professor Sykes could not say if the yeti, bigfoot or the Russian almasty is the best candidate for a surviving race of human 'apemen'.

He said: 'Bigfoot has many more people trying to find it. But I suppose either the yeti or the alma / almasty, which live in inaccessible and very thinly populated regions, is the most likely.'

 

THE MYTHICAL YETI AND THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED TO FIND IT

 

The first accounts of Yetis emerged before the 19th century from Buddhists who believed that the creature inhabited the Himalayas.

They depicted the mysterious beast as having similarities to an ape and carrying a large stone as a weapon while making a whistling sound.

In 1832, an explorer who had his account of trekking in Nepal published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal spoke of seeing tall, bipedal creature covered with long dark hair, which seemed to flee in fear.

The term Abominable Snowman was developed in 1921 following a book by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Howard-Bury called Mount Everest The Reconnaissance.

Popular interest in creature gathered pace in early 20th century as tourists began making their own trips to the region to try and capture the Yeti. They reported seeing strange markings in the snow.


Mystical: Hundreds of explorers, theorists and fantasists have spent their lives searching for the infamous 'big-foot'
Mystical: Hundreds of explorers, theorists and fantasists have spent their lives searching for the infamous 'big-foot'


The Daily Mail led a trip called the Snowman Expedition in 1954 to Everest. During the trip mountaineering leader John Angelo Jackson photographed ancient paintings of Yetis and large footprints in the snow.

A number of hair samples were also found that were believed to have come from a Yeti scalp.

British mountaineer Don Whillans claimed to have witnessed a creature when scaling Annapurna in 1970.

He said that while searching for a campsite he heard some odd cries which his guide attributed to a Yeti's call. That night, he saw a dark shape moving near his camp.

In recent times, there have been more reported Yeti sightings and at a conference in Russia in 2011, scientists declared they were 95 per cent certain of the existence of Yetis.

In 2013, a scientist claimed that the Yeti was a distant relative of the polar bear, which is thought to have died out more than 40,000 years ago.

But researchers have shown that the two hair samples analysed actually originated from a modern polar bear, and a type of rare bear native to the high mountain ranges. 





For more information about mystery hominids see http://nexusilluminati.blogspot.com/search/label/hominid
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