>So, it is an exciting find. My more general question to
>Christians is, I think, pertinent. How far can we use this (and
>related evidence) to assist interpret the incomplete
>archaeological data? And can we conclude that Neanderthals were
>genuinely human and thus descendants of Adam?
This has been an interesting conversation, but in response to David's
question, I would think that the information regarding this bone flute
(as presented on this list) is incomplete, and would be of little use
in concluding anything about the humanness of Neanderthals.
Consider the folowing statements made so far with regards to the origin
of this topic...
1. "I have no reference to the scientific literature, but I have found
the report I'd lost. It was from the newspaper..."
2. "Deep inside a cave in Slovenia, in the north of former Yugoslavia,
archaeologists have unearthed the world's oldest true
musical instrument - a flute which APPEARS to have been made by
Neanderthals around 45,000 years ago." (emphasis added)
The question involves the "humanness" of Neanderthals. What is that, and
what are we responding to in our arguments? In this iinstance we are
holding this newspaper account up as a "straw-man" for the purpose of
generating arguments regarding the cultural and intellectual development
of Neanderthals. Don't get me wrong, I think that the discussion has
been informative and interesting, but are we making certain assumptions
about an artifact as a result of a newspaper story?
>" What it SUGGESTS is that Neanderthal man was PERHAPS intellectually closer to
modern humans than has previously been
accepted. Nor were they necessarily as primitive and technologically
backward as many people have thought.The flute was discovered about 40
feet inside a cave by archaeologist Ivan Turk of the Slovenian Academy
of Sciences..."
So, we find a bone flute in a cave near a supposedly Neanderthal hearth
and determine that Neanderthals made it and that this means they were
smarter than anthropoligists thought they were. Sorry, but I'd like a
little more substance than that.
>"Prior to this discovery, most archaeologists and anthropologists would have
doubted Neanderthal man's ability to produce music, let alone make musical
instruments."
I'm a little uncomfortable with the mere assumption that, due to the
relative absence of evidence of technological development, Neanderthals
were somehow far removed intellectually from modern humans. It is easy
to develop an argument from an absence of evidence because it is so
difficult to develop an opposing evidence-based position. Suddenly a
bone flute is found and somehow all of the old pre-suppositions are just
cast aside.
>And can we conclude that Neanderthals were genuinely human and thus descendants
of Adam?
As previously stated, an obvious question that must be answered first
is... "What defines genuine humanness?"...
next, Do we know, or how can we determine, if Neanderthals possessed
it?...
and then, What do we mean by Adam, and are they then his descendents
because they are human?
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"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17"
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Paul Durham pdd@gcc.cc.md.us
Oakland, Maryland