It puzzles me, too. Perhaps anatomically correct humans were nothing more than clever-than-average apes until something (or Someone...) intervened to make them fully human.Ditto for me as to fights -- I don't want them.
I agree, it may mean that full consciousness and self awarness is not a function of brain-pan size or the amount of neurons present, but of some other more undefinable quality, although maybe not. maybe these early ancestors were fully capable it just took time for the idea to arise or the need for it was not present.