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Paleoneurology and Behaviour

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Human Paleoneurology

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Bio-/Neuroinformatics ((SSBN,volume 3))

Abstract

The discipline of Paleoneurology goes beyond the determination of biological characteristics and morphologies; it can also be used to infer behaviour in extinct species. In Paleocognition, the cognitive capacities of extinct humans can be examined through their fossil remains and the tools they left behind. This chapter examines some inferences that can be made about the origins of language based on paleoneurological and archaeological evidence. It focuses on laterality as a case study for the many behaviours that can be inferred from archaeology, and which are relevant to the origins and evolution of language. First is a review of the ontogeny of human hand preference, handedness in humans, and the hand preferences of non-human apes. Human handedness begins before birth, and develops into adulthood. All human populations have a majority of right-handers; explanations for the maintenance of a minority of left-handers are discussed. Next, the data for hand preferences and asymmetries in extinct fossil hominins are summarised. These show that species-level right-handedness has existed since Homo heidelbergensis, but there is only evidence for left-handed minorities in Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Finally, links between language, hand skill, ancient stone tool-making, and other cultural behaviours are discussed to propose a tentative date for the origins of language.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude Emiliano Bruner for inviting me to participate in the groundbreaking symposium “Human Paleoneurology” that led to this book. Two anonymous reviewers gave excellent comments that helped greatly improve this chapter. I am also grateful to Marina Lozano for providing Fig. 6.4. My research was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the British Academy centenary project “Lucy to Language: the Archaeology of the Social Brain”, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (#0298), and the Departments of Archaeology and Psychology at the University of Liverpool.

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  1. Department of Archaeology, Classics, and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, Hartley Building, Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GS, UK

    Natalie T. Uomini

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    Emiliano Bruner

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Uomini, N.T. (2015). Paleoneurology and Behaviour. In: Bruner, E. (eds) Human Paleoneurology. Springer Series in Bio-/Neuroinformatics, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08500-5_6

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