Intellectual capacity or performance?: A review of cultural elaboration differences between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0069

Abstract

Abstract:

The debate about possible differences in cultural elaboration between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans is of long standing. As archaeologists have hoped for a definitive answer, two opposite hypotheses have been proposed: intellectual capacity (the Neanderthals did not possess cultural elaboration) vs. performance (the Neanderthals did not need a high degree of cultural elaboration for their survival). In this paper, I will evaluate each argument in turn, especially focusing on artworks and related symbolic evidence. There are several weaknesses in the hypothesis of differential intellectual capacity, especially considering the evidence of the genetic contributions of Neanderthals to the modern human gene pool and the abilities reflected in the so-called “transitional industries”. Physical evidence for differences in brain structure relating to intellectual capacity has not been found. It is necessary to evaluate the hypothesis of performance with the assumption that there is no intellectual difference between Neanderthals and early anatomically modern humans. I attempt to provide a reasonable explanation based on differences in demography and the range of social interactions, which also could explain the demise of Neanderthals in Europe.

Key words: the Neanderthals, the anatomically modern humans, intellectual capacity, Paleolithic artworks, cultural elaboration

CLC Number:

K871.11

ZHANG Meng. Intellectual capacity or performance?: A review of cultural elaboration differences between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2019, 38(01): 60-76.

Figures/Tables 2

References 110

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解剖学部位	尼人	现代人
脑颅	长而低	短而宽
鼻孔	宽	窄
臀部与躯干	较宽	较窄
前臂	较短	较长
手骨	极粗壮	不太粗壮
膝关节面	较大	较小
小腿	较短	较长

解剖学部位	尼人	现代人
脑颅	长而低	短而宽
鼻孔	宽	窄
臀部与躯干	较宽	较窄
前臂	较短	较长
手骨	极粗壮	不太粗壮
膝关节面	较大	较小
小腿	较短	较长