January 13, 2010
Neanderthals Wore Makeup
The latest discovery helps to confirm that
Neanderthals were intelligent humans.
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.
PRINT
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What is white noise and where can a person find it?
White noise is a kind of static sound that can be used to aid sleep, enhance
privacy, block distractions, mask tinnitus, configure audio equipment, soothe
migraines, and more. Computer users can find and play white noise at the
address below.
Source: http://www.simplynoise.com/
****************************************************************************************************
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.
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What is white noise and where can a person find it?
White noise is a kind of static sound that can be used to aid sleep, enhance
privacy, block distractions, mask tinnitus, configure audio equipment, soothe
migraines, and more. Computer users can find and play white noise at the
address below.
Source: http://www.simplynoise.com/
****************************************************************************************************
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
0 Comments