[bert]

-——Much of it may be primitive, or even if complex,——

Think smaller.

Think those civilizations that are actually existent simultaneous with Homo sapiens.

There is one species that presently exists simultaneously and in concert with Homo sapiens. That civilized species is Apis mellifera, the common honey bee. There are some that will exclaim that the bee colonies have been enslaved by humans. There is in fact synergism that produces benefits for both species

Further, there are numerous ant and termite species that are closed and civilized societies with rules and language for communication about which we barely understand anything.

Insects are more primitive than mammals. It is very very probable that such societies exist all over the galaxy

[marktwain]

Further, there are numerous ant and termite species that are closed and civilized societies with rules and language for communication about which we barely understand anything.

They are not civilized societies.

Those colonies are properly understood as genetic individuals with semi-autonomous parts.

Each colony is more like a single body than a civilization.

Individual cells, such as workers, cannot reproduce. They cannot exist outside the colony. The colony produces more colonies, that is how it reproduces.