Neanderthals Wore Makeup
The latest discovery helps to confirm that
Neanderthals were intelligent humans.
SUMMARY: British archaeologists have discovered that Neanderthals
wore makeup "50,000 years ago," some "10,000" years before they are
thought to have coexisted with humans. Researchers say this discovery
indicates Neanderthals were not "dim-wits."
Archaeologists from the U. of Bristol located sea shells containing yellow
and red pigment and a reflective black material. The scientists said this
proves that it was not only "modern humans" who wore makeup for
decoration and ritual purposes and that the behavior of Neanderthals was
"symbolically organized." The discoveries were made at two
Neanderthal-associated sites in the Murcia province of southeast Spain.
Joao Zilhao, a Bristol professor, said: "This is the first secure evidence for
their use of cosmetics. The use of these complex recipes is new. It's more
than body painting." It is believed the bright shells were worn as jewelry or
neck pendants.
However, one scientist said even with this discovery it would be hard to
change the popular view that Neanderthals were dim-witted.
(Neanderthal pictures from Wikipedia. Thanks to Brent Nemmers for
suggesting this story.)
To read the entire article and view photos of the shells, click on this link to
the DAILY MAIL.
COMMENT: The most surprising aspect of this story is that these
scientists are suggesting that prior to this discovery, it was still acceptable
to hold to the notion that Neanderthals were sub-human. Actually, this
discovery just confirms what has been shown a number of times previously
-- Neanderthals are fully entitled to the designation of "human" and they
were intelligent.
It is interesting that the first picture above of a Neanderthal (made in 1888)
is the older, out-dated version. The newer one on the right depicts a
computer rendering of a Neanderthal child made since 1991 from
information obtained by scanning a Neanderthal specimen. Does she look
like an ape-man?
The idea that they were grunting, brutish, half-apes has long been
abandoned, at least by people who have followed news of scientific
discoveries in recent years. Evidence has been uncovered that
Neanderthals were similar enough to so-called modern man that they
interbred. Studies of skulls of both Neanderthal and modern human
infants shows that the cranial development of both was similar even
though there were some obvious differences in the shape of the skulls.
Moreover, Neanderthal tools have been shown to be as good as those
made by modern humans during the same period. And forget about the
idea that Neanderthals could only grunt. It has been proven that they had
the capacity for speech and language. They may also have had fair skin
and red hair.
Neanderthals were obviously not simians. So they had to be humans,
descendants of Adam and Eve and probably also Noah. They were as
similar to modern man as the various "human races" are to each other
today. They were in need of hearing the Gospel just as are we, and
hopefully the promise of a Savior had been passed down to them from
Noah just as the news of Jesus's coming has been passed down to us.
The latest discovery helps to confirm that
Neanderthals were intelligent humans.
SUMMARY: British archaeologists have discovered that Neanderthals
wore makeup "50,000 years ago," some "10,000" years before they are
thought to have coexisted with humans. Researchers say this discovery
indicates Neanderthals were not "dim-wits."
Archaeologists from the U. of Bristol located sea shells containing yellow
and red pigment and a reflective black material. The scientists said this
proves that it was not only "modern humans" who wore makeup for
decoration and ritual purposes and that the behavior of Neanderthals was
"symbolically organized." The discoveries were made at two
Neanderthal-associated sites in the Murcia province of southeast Spain.
Joao Zilhao, a Bristol professor, said: "This is the first secure evidence for
their use of cosmetics. The use of these complex recipes is new. It's more
than body painting." It is believed the bright shells were worn as jewelry or
neck pendants.
However, one scientist said even with this discovery it would be hard to
change the popular view that Neanderthals were dim-witted.
(Neanderthal pictures from Wikipedia. Thanks to Brent Nemmers for
suggesting this story.)
To read the entire article and view photos of the shells, click on this link to
the DAILY MAIL.
COMMENT: The most surprising aspect of this story is that these
scientists are suggesting that prior to this discovery, it was still acceptable
to hold to the notion that Neanderthals were sub-human. Actually, this
discovery just confirms what has been shown a number of times previously
-- Neanderthals are fully entitled to the designation of "human" and they
were intelligent.
It is interesting that the first picture above of a Neanderthal (made in 1888)
is the older, out-dated version. The newer one on the right depicts a
computer rendering of a Neanderthal child made since 1991 from
information obtained by scanning a Neanderthal specimen. Does she look
like an ape-man?
The idea that they were grunting, brutish, half-apes has long been
abandoned, at least by people who have followed news of scientific
discoveries in recent years. Evidence has been uncovered that
Neanderthals were similar enough to so-called modern man that they
interbred. Studies of skulls of both Neanderthal and modern human
infants shows that the cranial development of both was similar even
though there were some obvious differences in the shape of the skulls.
Moreover, Neanderthal tools have been shown to be as good as those
made by modern humans during the same period. And forget about the
idea that Neanderthals could only grunt. It has been proven that they had
the capacity for speech and language. They may also have had fair skin
and red hair.
Neanderthals were obviously not simians. So they had to be humans,
descendants of Adam and Eve and probably also Noah. They were as
similar to modern man as the various "human races" are to each other
today. They were in need of hearing the Gospel just as are we, and
hopefully the promise of a Savior had been passed down to them from
Noah just as the news of Jesus's coming has been passed down to us.
LSI Blog - Wednesday, January 13, 2010
