Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Stereotypes And Shifting Thinking

As scientists of the 19th century and beyond uncovered Neanderthal sites, it was left to artists to interpret what they would have looked like. More often than not, the sub-human, savage, dull witted interpretation won out.


This painting is called Neanderthal Flintworkers, a 1924 mural by Charles Knight.


The Field Museum in Chicago has, over time, changed dioramas about Neanderthals to reflect new thinking.


Today I finish with two cranium sections for comparison. Both have significance in the field of paleoanthropology.

35 comments:

  1. Hello, it is an interesting exhibit and museum. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great week ahead.

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  2. Interesting exhibition. Hope you're feeling better William.

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  3. ...stereotypes have been a constant and dangerous thing and are still today!

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  4. I really would like to know more about life during those times.
    Janis
    GDP

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  5. Sometimes I don't know anymore what should I believe about this period ?! Are these ancestors? Not really! I also do not believe that God gives us created, but it must be something ... and not the evolved monkey! I believe that ET exists ... really! Will be absurd to believe that we are alone in all this gigantic universe ... Or not?

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  6. Fascinating information about these people. I would love to visit this museum. :-)

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  7. Fascinating info! Thank you! I’ve enjoyed this series!

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  8. @Francisco: thank you.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Sami: gradually.

    @Tom: that's true.

    @Janis: it was different.

    @Ella: I think it is best summed up as common roots.

    @Iris: as do I.

    @DJan: it is a splendid museum.

    @Marie: more to come.

    @Tanya: that it is.

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  9. You have changed my knowledge about these beings. Thanks.

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  10. Neanderthals have always been a fascinating topic. I'm sure there will be more information on them.

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  11. Interesting about how the artists created these images.

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  12. Different species once were on the earth at the same time, and now all we have are bones and flints and their tools (and sometimes pottery shards.) If I had another lifetime, I'd be an anthropologist.

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  13. A very interesting exhibition, William .

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  14. Interesting, to think of ourselves back then, what we would have looked like.
    No doubt, the finest grasses and leather woven into a chic wardrobe. That kind of organic material I doubt would make it into fossil stage, as they wear from the wearing or get used for kindling. So who knows, our fashion back then might have been quite stylish.

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  15. @RedPat: you're welcome.

    @Marleen: very much so.

    @Red: more of this to come.

    @Sharon: that's true.

    @Barbara: I would have liked to go into the field.

    @Karl: it certainly was.

    @Maywyn: good way to put it.

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  16. A very interesting exhibition. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Interesting to see that our understanding is still evolving.

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  18. I'm glad the museums are keeping up with it.

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  19. all in the perception and interpretation ~

    Happy Moments to You ,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  20. An interesting exhibition...

    All the best Jan

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  21. Loving our museum tours again. You have some amazing artifacts over there.

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