Notes for my speech in August 2019 at the Toastmasters Club, Toast of Berkeley
Young paleontologists are proposing dropping the “h” in the word Neanderthal, and writing simply Neandertal, to highlight the difference between the real prehistoric humans we are learning about today and the grotesque caricature created by early scientists.
Beebe Bahrami
The Toastmasters Speech
In this speech, I will discuss Homo neanderthalensis, commonly known as Neanderthals, and how our perception of these early humans has changed over time.
I’ve always been fascinated by prehistory and early humans. I grew up in the Italian Alps and, as a kid, I enjoyed exploring the woods and forests around my village (at the time, the kids were allowed to roam around unsupervised).
One day, I remember, I discovered a cave hidden in the woods. I was so excited! I started imagining what it would be like to be an early human living there, going around with a club, hunting in the woods, picking berries, and mushrooms. In my fantasy, that was a much more exciting life than going to school! Only later did I learn that the cave is not very old. The Nazists dug it in 1944-45. It was part of a project to create a military stronghold to protect the retreat of German troops crossing the valley on their way back to Germany. Luckily, it was never used because of the sudden capitulation of the Italian front in late April 1945.
Just a few years later, I discovered some truth in my fantasies. A local museum was exhibiting a large rock found in nearby vineyards, with beautifully carved images dating to about 5000 years ago that depict a female figure. The “Goddess Mother” stone, as it is called, was found in 1940. With several other similar stones, it is displayed at the local archeological museum, Antiquarium Tellinum, located at Palazzo Besta in Teglio. Maybe I was right, a long time ago someone, not a Neanderthal, lived in that cave!
My fascination with early humans and, more recently, with the Neanderthals never faded. I kept reading books, like The Humans Who Went Extinct by Clive Finlayson, and articles about early humans, Neanderthals, and the evolution of the human species. A few years ago, I did a 23andMe test to analyze my DNA. The result came back, confirming that, like many Europeans, I am at least 3% Neanderthal. Yes, Neanderthals are not extinct, they are among us, and I’m (partially) one of them!
My fascination with early humans never faded.
Earlier paleontologists described Neanderthals as extremely primitive, with limited intelligence and a very robust build, almost grotesque. Until recently, all images of Neanderthals looked more like caricatures than scientific reconstructions. For over a century, Neanderthal was synonymous with: an unsophisticated, primitive, unintelligent human brute.
The way we look at those early humans is finally changing. Discoveries have been made, old Neanderthal bones and traces have been re-analyzed with a more scientific approach. Thanks to new technologies such as DNA analysis and improved dating techniques, we know that Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens interbred. We don’t know whether it was a peaceful, friendly relationship or a violent one. Most Europeans, like me, carry traces of Neanderthal DNA.
The way we look at those early humans is finally changing.
As scientists are unraveling new Neanderthal remains, looking at the few traces left, they are making some exciting discoveries about those early humans.
- They knew how to use fire. We don’t know whether Neanderthals could light a new fire or only use and perpetuate an existing one.
- Not only were they exceptionally strong, but they were also quite intelligent to survive in such a hostile environment. Despite several ice ages, they managed to survive in Europe for over 300,000 years. As a reference, Homo sapiens have been around for about 100 thousand years, and we are getting close to the point of extinction.
- A recent discovery of Neanderthal man’s bones with traces of old injuries proves that they cared for members of their tribe who were unable to provide for themselves.
- And finally, several Neanderthal artifacts show traces of abstract decoration. Nothing complex, but it’s a proof of their abstract thinking capabilities, something that we like to think of as unique to Homo sapiens.
The change of attitude doesn’t stop here. According to Beebe Bahrami, the author of Café Neandertal, a few young paleontologists are proposing dropping the “h” in the word Neanderthal, writing simply Neandertal. The intent is to highlight the difference between the Neanderthal we are learning about today and the grotesque caricature created by early scientists.
All my life, I read about Neanderthals, learning everything I could about them. The last lesson I learned is that science can be wrong, but eventually, it will correct itself!
Science can be wrong, but eventually, it will correct itself!
