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A 51,000-year-old engraved bone reveals Neanderthals’ capacity for symbolic behaviour
Nature / Nature Ecology & Evolution ^ | July 05, 2021 | Dirk Leder et al

Posted on 07/19/2021 7:52:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

While there is substantial evidence for art and symbolic behaviour in early Homo sapiens across Africa and Eurasia, similar evidence connected to Neanderthals is sparse and often contested in scientific debates. Each new discovery is thus crucial for our understanding of Neanderthals’ cognitive capacity. Here we report on the discovery of an at least 51,000-year-old engraved giant deer phalanx found at the former cave entrance of Einhornhöhle, northern Germany. The find comes from an apparent Middle Palaeolithic context that is linked to Neanderthals. The engraved bone demonstrates that conceptual imagination, as a prerequisite to compose individual lines into a coherent design, was present in Neanderthals. Therefore, Neanderthal’s awareness of symbolic meaning is very likely. Our findings show that Neanderthals were capable of creating symbolic expressions before H. sapiens arrived in Central Europe.

(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals
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To: SunkenCiv

“...Neanderthals’ capacity for symbolic behaviour”

Well, THERE ya go!

They had leftists even way back then.


21 posted on 07/19/2021 10:10:09 PM PDT by HKMk23 ('Tis plain that People lose their Christianity with their Liberties. -- Thomas Bradbury, 1712)
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To: Reily

Were they humans or different enough to be another specie of human?

I guess science is still trying to figure that one out.


22 posted on 07/19/2021 11:04:40 PM PDT by crusher2013
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To: The Antiyuppie

We also had numbers in our favor.

Their was a massive volcano in Italy about 40,000 years ago that probably tipped the scales against our cousins.

The nastiness was probably the final straw.


23 posted on 07/19/2021 11:06:50 PM PDT by crusher2013
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To: crusher2013

Well they’re Homo Sapien Neanderthalis we’re Homo Sapien Sapien. We interbred. So different species ? Probably not ! These boundaries are very poorly understood.


24 posted on 07/20/2021 4:33:56 AM PDT by Reily
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To: The Antiyuppie
There is a school of thought that Neanderthals may have actually been smarter the Homo Sapiens, but our species may have been healthier, nastier, procreated more, or worked together better.

Or just run faster. Neanderthals had shorter legs. Somebody who is able to run up, toss a spear, and run off would have an advantage.

25 posted on 07/20/2021 4:40:09 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: Reily
Well they’re Homo Sapien Neanderthalis we’re Homo Sapien Sapien. We interbred.

If there was interbreeding, then they are not a separate species, they are a different race.

26 posted on 07/20/2021 4:41:42 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: PapaBear3625

Somewhat agree !
Like I said those boundaries are poorly understood.


27 posted on 07/20/2021 5:05:14 AM PDT by Reily
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To: SunkenCiv

Notches for each woman they clubbed over the head with it and dragged to their cave?


28 posted on 07/20/2021 6:07:27 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Dusty Road
Where they come up with with these ritual or symbolic explanations is beyond me.

I am sure there a a multitude of things that are beyond you and few are ritualistic or symbolic.

29 posted on 07/24/2021 11:43:12 AM PDT by Lion Den Dan
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To: Lion Den Dan

Took you 5 days to come up with that? You’re getting better.


30 posted on 07/24/2021 1:38:37 PM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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