Neandertal Tools
• Neandertals improved previous techniques by
inventing a new variation, Mousterian.
– They trimmed a flint nodule around the
edges to form a disk-shaped core.
– Each time they struck the edge, they
produced a flake, continuing until the core
became too small and was discarded.
– They then trimmed the flakes into various
forms, such as scrapers, points, and knives.
Chatelperronian
• This is an Upper
Paleolithic tool
industry found in
France and Spain,
containing blade tools
and associated with
Neandertals.
• Neandertals are also
identified with
Mousterian tools
(next slide)…
Mousterian (Neandertal) vs.
Acheulian (Homo Erectus) Tools
• Mousterian is
characterized by a
larger proportion
of flake tools than
is found in
Acheulian tool kits.
Review…Acheulean Tools
 Acheulean tools are
typically found with Homo
erectus remains.
 Lower to Middle
Pleistocene
 It was the dominant
technology for the vast
majority of human history
and more than one million
years ago it was
Acheulean tool users who
left Africa to first
successfully colonize
Eurasia.
Review…Oldowan tools
• The Oldowan is the first known
industrial complex in
prehistory. It takes its name
from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
• Oldowan tool use is estimated
to have begun about 2.5
million years ago (mya), lasting
to as late as 0.5 mya.
• It is thought that Oldowan
tools were produced by several
species of hominids ranging
from late Australopithecus
to early Homo.
Subsistence
• Remains of animal bones demonstrate that
Neandertals were successful hunters.
• Used close-proximity spears for hunting (spear
thrower and bow and arrow weren’t invented
until the Upper Paleolithic).
• Patterns of trauma in Neandertal remains
match those of contemporary rodeo
performers, indicating close proximity to prey.
Speech and Symbolic Behavior
• Prevailing consensus has been that
Neandertals were capable of articulate
speech.
• Even if Neandertals did speak, they did
not have the same language capabilities
of modern Homo sapiens.
Burials
• Neanderthals buried
their dead.
• Their burials included
grave goods like
animal bones and
stone tools.
• They placed the
bodies of their dead
in a flexed position.
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Neandertals
Tool
Technology
Upper Paleolithic
Modern Humans
Many varieties of
Numerous flake
stone tools; many for
tools; few highly
specialized functions;
specialized; use of
frequent use of bone,
bone, antler, or ivory
antler, and ivory;
very rare; few tools
many tools comprised
with more than one
of two or more
or two parts
component parts
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Neandertals
Hunting
No long-distance
Efficiency
hunting weapons;
and
close-proximity
Weapons
weapons used
Upper Paleolithic
Modern Humans
Use of spear-thrower and
bow and arrow; wider
range of social contacts,
perhaps larger, more
organized hunting parties
(including game drives)
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Neandertals
Stone
Material
Transport
Stone materials
transported only
short distances
Upper Paleolithic
Modern Humans
Stone tool raw materials
transported over longer
distances, implying wider
social networks and
perhaps trade
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Neandertals
Art
Upper Paleolithic
Modern Humans
Uncommon; probably
Artwork more common,
mostly personal; some
transportable objects as
items misinterpreted
well as elaborate cave
as “art”; others may
art; well executed, using
be intrusive from
a variety of materials and
overlying Upper
techniques; stylistic
Paleolithic contexts;
sophistication
cave art absent
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Burial
Neandertals
Upper Paleolithic
Modern Humans
Deliberate burial at
several sites; graves
unelaborated; graves
frequently lack artifacts
Burials more complex,
frequently including
tools and remains of
animals
Physical Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper
Paleolithic Modern Humans
Phylogeny of Genus Homo Very Modest Species Diversity
Phylogeny of genus Homo - Considerable
Species Diversity
Neandertal Genome
Question:
• Why should knowing the full genome of
Neandertals help us learn something
important about ourselves?
What Makes Us Human?
•
–
Nova (2012)
Neandertal Genome
Answer:
• Much of what makes humans unique is coded
in genes that have been altered by evolution in
the last few hundred thousand years.
• By looking at Neandertal DNA, we can see
which genes have been modified.
• We can then begin to explain the biological
bases of human intelligence and even perhaps
the nature of consciousness.
• Genetics of Human Origins (Sarah Tishkoff)