The ability to throw at fast speeds is something that is a uniquely human characteristic. New research shows that prehistoric humans probably evolved the ability to throw around 1.8 million years ago, with the advent of hunting.

The ability to throw at fast speeds is something that is a uniquely human characteristic.

New research shows that prehistoric humans probably evolved the ability to throw objects at high speed around 1 point 8 million years ago, with the advent of hunting.

Chimpanzees, our closest living relative, can only throw at speeds of up to 20 miles an hour, but professional baseball pitchers can throw at a consistent 90 miles per hour.

Researchers from George Washington University say that based on their study of the homo erectus fossil record, an anatomical evolutionary change is responsible for the energy storage and release from the shoulder that is exhibited by throwing an object.

Eating meat is one hypothesis of why this anatomical adaptation occurred.

Doctor Neil Roach, from George Washington University said: “This dietary change led to seismic shifts in our ancestors' biology, allowing them to grow larger bodies, larger brains, and to have more children, and it also did interesting things to our social structure.”

Other researchers aren’t so quick to call it.

They say that the full body of evidence is not there to make a definitive interpretation, and more research is needed to paint a full picture of this evolutionary trait.