From the origin of language to the diversification of languages

Shifts in Neandertal mobility, technology and subsistence strategies in western France

“…Each system reflects an innovative and distinct response to the dietary needs of Neandertal groups and forms a time-limited occurrence. Similar sporadic innovations, whether technological or symbolic, have already been observed throughout the Middle Paleolithic (d 'Errico, 2003;d'Errico et al, 2009;Hovers and Belfer-Cohen, 2006). These innovations do not directly foreshadow the behaviors developed by the first Upper Paleolithic populations.…”

Assessing the photoprotective effects of red ochre on human skin by in vitro laboratory experiments

“…It must, however, be brought to mind that the exploitation of ochre is not limited to H. sapiens and that the capacity to attribute specific meaning to conventional signs is not unique to our species. [30][31][32] Moreover, although current evidence concerning ochre exploitation supports proposals for socially complex and emotionally driven prehistoric lifestyles, it does not provide explicit evidence for symbolic thought and behaviour. 59 While suggestions concerning the efficacy of red ochre as a sunscreen are intriguing, the results presented here should be regarded as preliminary.…”

“…25,26 The habitual exploitation of red ochre by H. sapiens has been interpreted as evidence for colour symbolism 27 , as a proxy for the origin of language 27,28 and as an essential element of symbolic and fully modern human behaviour 29,30 . Although the collection and processing of ochre is not limited to our species 31,32 , the routine exploitation of red ochre may represent a species-specific behavioural trait for H. sapiens 27,28 .…”

Processing ochre in the Middle Stone Age: Testing the inference of prehistoric behaviours from actualistically derived experimental data

“…The examination of wear traces on ochres therefore also benefit from the analytical techniques applied to lithic implements (Semenov, 1964;Keeley, 1980;Odell, 2003), grinding stones (Dubreuil, 2004;Hamon, 2008), bone implements (d 'Errico, 1993;d'Errico and Villa, 1997;Backwell and d'Errico, 2001;d'Errico and Henshilwood, 2007) and shell beads and other forms of art (d 'Errico, 1988'Errico, , 1989'Errico, , 1992d'Errico and Nowell, 2000;d'Errico et al, 2005d'Errico et al, , 2009ad'Errico et al, , 2009b.…”

“…Initially centred on the fossil record, and more recently also drawing on genetic data and the evolution of modern behaviour (Harpending and Rogers, 2000;Enard et al, 2002;Pääbo, 2003;White et al, 2003;McDougall et al, 2005;Wood et al, 2005;Krause et al, 2007;Li et al, 2008;d'Errico et al, 2009a;Henshilwood and Dubreuil, 2009;Premo and Hublin, 2009), the exploitation of earth pigments or 'ochre' have received increasing academic consideration (Barham, 2002;Hovers et al, 2003;Soressi and d'Errico, 2007;d'Errico et al, 2009ad'Errico et al, , 2010Wadley, 2009Wadley, , 2010Watts, 2010). In addition to the manufacture of abstract engravings and personal ornaments, the habitual exploitation of ochre is interpreted as evidence for colour symbolism (Watts, 1999(Watts, , 2002(Watts, , 2009), a proxy for the origin of language (Barham, 2002;Knight, 2008;Henshilwood and Dubreuil, 2009;Watts, 2009) and one of the essential elements of 'symbolic' and therefore 'modern' human behaviour (Knight et al, 1995;McBrearty and Brooks, 2000;Watts, 2002;d'Errico, 2003;Henshilwood and Dubreuil, 2009;d'Errico et al, 2010).…”