Taking care of one another

John W. Burgeson (73531.1501@compuserve.com)
06 Aug 96 15:27:32 EDT

Gelnn quotes as follows: " Her bones are poignant testimony to the beginnings of
sociality, of strong ties among individuals that came to exceed the
bonding and friendship we see among baboons or chimps or other non human
primates"(Walker and Shipman,p. 165)"

as part of his excellent discussion of "1808," an early version of what appears
to be us.

The care taken of 1808 in his/her last days by others seems to be well
established. Yet non-humans of today are observed to do likewise in many
instances. See, for example, the book "When Elephants Weep." So the care-taking
can hardly (it seems to me) to be very conclusive evidence of 1808's humanness.

Burgy