Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Misperceptions About A Species

Apologies for my prolonged absence from many of your blogs; I'm away from home at the moment, and for good measure have been under the weather. I will try to catch up.

One of the prevailing images of the Neanderthal is the idea of the club. It's been seen time and time again in pop culture, art, and advertising, such as this ad from 1940. I like the role reversal of the usual stereotype.


Or in the case of a Buster Keaton film.


Guess what? There's no evidence in Neanderthal sites that clubs were ever used.


Spears, however, were. The displays go into detail on the misinterpretations of these people that have been going on since their first discovery.


For today I leave off with these skulls for comparison.

49 comments:

  1. This looks like a very interesting exhibit.

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  2. Very interesting. I´m just a little confuse French comes first...

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  3. It's always interesting to learn about our ancestors ! I have my doubts now that we came from monkeys !

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  4. Very interesting exhibit!
    Have a happy and healthy 2020!

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  5. Their clubs weren't enough to ensure their survival.

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  6. Hello, interesting exhibit, especially the skulls. I hope you are feeling better. Enjoy your day, have a happy week ahead.

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  7. That last one reminds me of the old saying about the proverbial hole in the head. :-)

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  8. I hope you are feeling better, soon. You are one of the members of CDP who helps hold us together. Post and comment whatever you can!

    Janis GDP

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  9. Interesting post, William.
    Arte you sure they didn't use clubs ...? One of those sculls has quite a hole in it ... ;-)

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  10. ...I hope that you will be feeling better soon. I remember the insurance ad with the Neanderthal.

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  11. That ad from the 1940s is certainly provocative. Thanks for the tour.

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  12. What A Period In Time - Thanx For Sharing

    Cheers

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  13. Such an interesting exhibit, William!

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  14. Interesting exhibition and never fear, we will all be here when you return. Be well.

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  15. The club idea is curious! I’d rather a spear to face the creatures they had in the wild.

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  16. @Linda: it is.

    @Iris: it is standard in our museums.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Gattina: we have evolved.

    @Ella: thank you.

    @David: that assumes they used them at all.

    @Eileen: it's a sinus infection, unfortunately. I'm on meds.

    @Revrunner: definitely.

    @Janis: thank you.

    @Jan: plenty of ways to put a hole in a head.

    @Tom: I remember that one too.

    @DJan: it is indeed.

    @Padre: you're welcome.

    @RedPat: it is.

    @Michelle: thanks.

    @Marie: more useful.

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  17. You have to have a good aim and strong arm to use a spear successfully. I hope you are feeling better.

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  18. Prayers sent your way that you feel better, and don't get sick again in your life time.
    Face masks.
    I bought a box of disposable face masks for when the flu or a cold starts bad around here. I am intimidated by the look of wearing a mask, but being old doesn't mean not being bold.

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    1. As I recall that was a sinus infection I had at the time.

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  19. Club or spear...it must have been scary hunting animals that would in turn hunt you. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

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  20. What a neat exhibit! I like that first picture haha....I hope you feel better soon!

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  21. Be well soon ~ Great role reversals in the ads ~ as I said before ~ strong trace of neanderthal man still with us.

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

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  22. What an interesting exhibit. Nice new banner photo, William and I hope you get better soon.

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  23. I hope you are better soon. We are almost... I went back to volunteer today.
    I dodged a bullet as my client's family have all had flu!!!!

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  24. Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well and hope you better real soon.

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  25. I hope you feel much better, soon. One wonders how a spear made a gaping hole in a skull.

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  26. Now back in day, woman know how to keep her husband in line

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  27. Hope you're feeling better soon. It's dreadful to be ill away from home.

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  28. I'm sorry you've been sick, William. I can relate right now. Just get better. That's the main thing. We all slow down sometimes.

    I never knew about the club! Pretty cool!

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  29. I hope you are feeling better …
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

    PS Another good post :)

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  30. Trust you are feeling better William.

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