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Because they were worth it? Research finds Neanderthals enjoyed makeup
guardian.co.uk ^ | Jan. 11, 2010 | Sam Jones

Posted on 01/11/2010 4:50:51 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

For decades, our low-browed Neanderthal cousins have been portrayed as dim savages whose idea of seduction was a whispered "ug" and a blow to the cranium.

But analysis of pierced, hand-coloured shells and lumps of pigment from two caves in south-east Spain suggests the cavepeople who stomped around Europe 50,000 years ago were far more intelligent – and cosmetically minded – than previously thought.

In 1985, archaeologists excavating the Cueva de los Aviones in Murcia found cockle shells perforated as if to be hung on a necklace and an oyster shell containing mineral pigments, hinting that the cave's Neanderthal residents had developed a taste for self-adornment and makeup.

Twenty-three years later, an expedition led by João Zilhão, professor of palaeolithic archaeology at the University of Bristol, turned up a pierced, orange-­coloured scallop shell bearing traces of red and yellow pigment at another Murcian cave, Cueva Antón.

Despite its significance, however, the latter find was nearly overlooked.

"The shell was found by an undergraduate student at Bristol on the first or second day of the dig," said Zilhão. "When he showed it to me I told him it was probably a fossil from the cave wall. Note it and bag it, I said, we'll look at it later. We forgot about it till later and then, when we were cleaning it, I realised that it was a shell, not a fossil."

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals

1 posted on 01/11/2010 4:50:52 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
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To: Free ThinkerNY
related story
2 posted on 01/11/2010 4:57:05 PM PST by Vaquero (BHO....'The Pretenda from Kenya')
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To: Free ThinkerNY

“Neanderthal residents had developed a taste for self-adornment and makeup.”

Insert obligatory Helen Thomas picture here:


3 posted on 01/11/2010 4:58:35 PM PST by dynachrome (Barack Hussein Obama yunikku khinaaziir!)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Certain Neanderthals also had an elementary spiritual sense as they placed flowers in their dead’s graves.


4 posted on 01/11/2010 5:00:18 PM PST by onedoug
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To: Free ThinkerNY

They also have a thing for Duck with Mango Salsa.


5 posted on 01/11/2010 5:01:05 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: All
You Know The Drill
Click the Pic

Click The Pic Hey! FReepers!
Help Fill The Tank!
How About It? Huh?
It Ain't Askin' Too Much
Ya Know....


6 posted on 01/11/2010 5:03:25 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR... Monthly donors welcome!)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Must be true. So does Harry Reid.


7 posted on 01/11/2010 5:04:40 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spirito Sancto.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Because they were worth it? Research finds Neanderthals enjoyed makeup

Are they sure that is make-up or should it be make-up sex?

8 posted on 01/11/2010 5:10:08 PM PST by Michael.SF. (At least Hitler got the Olympics for Germany)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Metallic copper is found with copper oxide (a green pigment).

I've read speculation that prehistoric man discovered metallic copper while in the process of looking for green eyeshadow.

9 posted on 01/11/2010 5:11:18 PM PST by El Sordo
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To: Free ThinkerNY
I have known that for eons. All I have to do to see a Neanderthal wearing make up is watch television for about ten hours--which appears to be the average watching time to see a Martha Croak-me campaign ad.

For those of you living outside Massghanistan, try watching CSPAN. Wait for Barbara Mikulski to show up.

10 posted on 01/11/2010 5:16:34 PM PST by MIchaelTArchangel (Is anyone in the 0bama administration competent at anything?!!?)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Neanderthals enjoyed enjoy makeup
Especially lipstick. They love lipstick...

11 posted on 01/11/2010 5:19:03 PM PST by Semper Mark (Life is a series of sucker punches. Protect yourself at all times.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Well, duh!?!. If you had a mug like they did you’d want to spruce it up a bit too.


12 posted on 01/11/2010 5:20:07 PM PST by John-Irish ("Shame of him who thinks of it''.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

DEATH BY SNOO SNOO!


13 posted on 01/11/2010 6:53:48 PM PST by John Will
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· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·

 
Gods
Graves
Glyphs
Thanks Free ThinkerNY.
The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

in local libraries
Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

·Dogpile · Archaeologica · LiveScience · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society ·
· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google ·
· The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·


14 posted on 01/12/2010 5:33:54 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Happy New Year! Freedom is Priceless.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
The make-up may have had a practical purpose, like the black paint under the eyes of athletes, or the camouflage make-up worn by soldiers.


15 posted on 10/22/2010 4:36:09 AM PDT by jmcenanly
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To: Free ThinkerNY
our low-browed Neanderthal cousins have been portrayed as dim savages whose idea of seduction was a whispered "ug" and a blow to the cranium.

Today, they would be playing in the NFL.

16 posted on 10/22/2010 4:43:53 AM PDT by GreenHornet
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