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ORIGINAL: Missdressed

Thank you so much for sharing that.

I wanted to be an anthropological paeleontologist. I've held a pice of Neanderthal bone in my hand. And it rates as quite simply one of the coolest experiences of my life.

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ORIGINAL: ARIES83

"Like us" is relative, back then I doubt we even talked like us...

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ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

Blast. I was going to do that joke. [;)]

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ORIGINAL: ARIES83

I found an interesting, but short snippet showing possible evidence of the progression of language out of africa over 100,000 years ago... I wonder if the number of distinct phonemes correlates to the incorporation of more advanced linguistic/conceptual tools? So that the more streamlined and elegant the communication is made by progressive development, the fewer distinct phonemes it requires to articulate/express the same complexity...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1377150/Every-language-evolved-single-prehistoric-mother-tongue-spoken-Africa.html

Because you'd think it would be getting more complex over time not less...[:o]

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ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman

For some reason, I got this mental image: (note, read this in a snooty, RP English accent)

Caveman #1: "I say, Gort, that is a smashing saber-tooth loincloth you're sporting! Pray tell how you came to acquire such an exquisite piece of kit?

Caveman #2: "But of course, my dear boy! I was with the hunting party on that last mammoth hunt. Dreadful bit of business that was, Snert was gored and Og was trampled, and dash it all, but that bloody mammoth managed to slip our trap! Fortunately, I waited until after the hullabaloo died down and this smashing great cat came by to dine upon our poor cave-mates. Bip and bop, and here I am in my new togs!"

Caveman #1 "Smashing."

Caveman #2 "Indeed."

(edited to correct text-apologies to readers from the Isles-I really don't know the lingo there [;)])