Friday 8
Friday activity. Comparing Neanderthals and early modern humans.
This is participation day for the
Palaoa
team.
Activity summary:
•Examine evidence for the earliest art and music .
•Consider if the ability to create art and music represents a fundamental difference between
Neanderthal and modern human brains.
Before Friday, watch these short videos, consider these questions and be prepared to discuss in
class:
1) What does music, art and stone tool technology tell us about differences between
Neanderthals and modern humans?
Music, art, and stone tool technology tell us that Neanderthals had limited thinking capabilities
compared to modern humans. Music and art are not needed for survival in
any
species, so it
shows that Homo sapiens were beginning to develop their own culture. It also shows that they
had symbolic thoughts, and the fact that they had better language skills might have helped
them communicate these ideas to other Homo sapiens.
2) If Neanderthals had a bigger brain, why weren't they more intelligent than us?
Neanderthals were not more intelligent than us because due to their larger size, their brains
may have taken longer to develop. [BECOMING HUMAN VIDEO
] Although their brains were
bigger, their parietal and temporal lobes were smaller than modern humans. These parts are
associated with language and memory, so they might have not had the same thinking capacities
that modern humans have.
3) If we assume Neanderthal brains were more ape-like, does this help explain why they
became extinct? Explain.
I do not think it is all necessarily due to their ape-like brains. Their thinking limitations might
have been why they could not compete well with modern humans in terms of tool technology
with hunting. Their larger body size required more energy, and because they had a carnivorous
diet, they were limited in finding sources of protein when the animals they hunted would move
out due to climate changes. Homo sapiens were the most adaptable.
Paleolithic music
Music is one of the most distinctive aspects of modern human behavior. When did our
ancestors start making musical instruments? The earliest evidence is a 30-40,000 year old flute
discovered in Germany. This 4 min. video features that flute any explains why it is important:
