I thought the latest thinking was the Neanderthals DID make/own/wear decorative items towards the end of their time on earth, but what was not clear was whether they were truly being "creative" or were merely aping their new Cro-Magnon neighbors without understanding what they were doing.
Yup. That's about the last I've heard on this too.
Contempory studies have shown that brain size correlates with IQ. Cro-Magnon Man had a larger brain than present day humans...we're breeding down.(?)