Does evolutionary anthropology show that humans are distinctive? – Dr Cara Wall-Scheffler

Wed 1 July 2020

By around 100,000 years ago there were at least three different species of hominins on earth, two of which came into contact with each other by about 40,000 years ago. These two species, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens share many traits in common, including large brains, the use of fire and the hunting of large mammals for food. Despite their many similarities, distinctions are apparent between their subsistence strategies and their cultural artifacts and practices. This is particularly because H. sapiens begin making of symbolic figurines and art as early as 70,000 years ago whereas we do not see such a trend among H. neanderthalensis. The evidence for the similarities and differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, and the importance of symbolism as representative of possible evidence of the sacred will be considered.

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