1. The Biology of the
Arts
A BIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO HOW H. SAPIEN AND
NEANDERTHALENSIS BEGAN TO CREATE ARTISTIC
REPRESENTATION
2. BOIOLOGICAL ADVANCES ALLOWED FOR
DEEPER THOUGHT AND IDEALS
• Anatomic changes that allowed for expression
• Genes thought to be involved
• Artifacts that have been found on sites around the world
• Bone whistles and flutes
• Red ochre spots found on cave walls
• Cave paintings
• Evidence of “Body Painting Kits”
• Shell beads
• Funeral sites for both species
• Tying it all together and the ties to Music
3. Anatomical Changes
I. The Hyoid Bone in Neanderthal and ancient H. Sapien
was almost identical. (Ruggero D’Anastasio, et al. 2013)
II. Bipedal movement allowed for more potential for brain
growth AND caused what is known as the “obstetric
dilemma” where birth canals had to accommodate
growing brain sizes or reorganization of the frontal cortex
(Falk, D., et al. 2012, Herman Pontzer et al. 2012)
III. Rapid climate change also spurred brain growth
IV. Brain growth itself increased greatly over time
4. Brain Growth during evolution
I. a. Around 3.8 million ago, our ancestors Australopithecus
afarensis, had a brain that was 30 cubic inches (500 cubic
centimeters) in volume.
II. b. About 1.8 million years ago, Homo erectus had a brain
twice the size of Australopithecus afarensis.
III. c. When Neanderthals and Denisovans arrived, the brain had
grown to 85 cubic inches (1.4 litres) in volume.
IV. d. Despite this increase in size, scientists believe human's
intelligence may have more to do with how brain cells form
that how large the brain grows.
V. (ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD 2015)
6. Human brain growth vs chimpanzee in
gestation
I. Most of the genes to be discussed have to do with neonatal
brain growth
II. D. Hirata and colleaguesTomoko Sakai and HidekoTakeshita
now find that human and chimp brains begin to show
remarkable differences very early in life. In both primate
species, the brain grows increasingly fast in the womb initially.
After 22 weeks of gestation, brain growth in chimpanzees
starts to level off, while that of humans continues to
accelerate for another two months or more. (Human
gestation time is only slightly longer than that of
chimpanzees, 38 weeks versus 33 or 34 weeks.)
III. (Tomoko Sakaiemail et al, 2012, PHYS.ORG 2012)
7. ARHGAP11B
I. A neural stem cell (called a progenitor)
II. Creates more brain matter and neocortex folding
III. B. This allowed for folding and allowing more brain to fit
into the skull.
IV. This gene is located in a region known for reasoning
language and sensory perception
V. Only found in Neanderthals and H. Sapiens
8. FOXP2
I. “FOXP2, which contains two human-specific amino acid
substitutions that were initially attributed to an episode of
positive selection early in modern human evolution (∼200,000
yr ago) …….
II. “FOXP2 is of particular interest as it is suspected of having a
role in the evolution of language, which is widely considered
to be unique to modern humans” (James P. Noonan 2010)
III. This particular version is also specific to H.Sapiens and
Neanderthalensis
IV. Allowed for communication
9. Hare5 (short forhuman-accelerated
regulatory enhancer number 5)
I. Makes brains bigger
II. Paves the way for more neurons which increase brain
size.
III. One of the scientists doing the HARE5 (specifically
human HARE5) study which injected mice with HARE5
from humans it increased 12% (Tomoko Sakai et al. 2012)
IV. This is an enhancer type gene and they enhance
properties of other genes
V. This one is also specific to Neanderthal and Homo Sapien
11. Burial Rituals of Neanderthals
I. In Neanderthals, burials were fairly simple “The Neanderthals had occasionally practiced
burial of the dead” (IANTATTERSALL 1998)
II. “They presumably buried relatives and friends in shallow graves dug into the soft soil of
their living areas at the mouths of caves and rock shelters. Usually the bodies were flexed
in a fetal position. Frequently, the bones were stained with hematite, a rust-red iron ore.
It is likely that the bodies were either sprinkled with hematite powder or the powdered
pigment was mixed with a viscous liquid medium, such as vegetable seed oil or animal fat,
and painted on the bodies. In nearly half of the 33 known Neandertal burials, stone tools
and/or animal bones were found in the graves. Not all paleoanthropologists agree that
these objects were intentionally placed there in funerary rites. If they were, however, it
implies that the Neandertals were trying to prepare the dead for what was ahead of
them... Apparently, the body of a man was placed on pine boughs in the grave and
flowers from 8 different species (including hyacinths, daisies, hollyhocks, and bachelor's
buttons) were sprinkled on top. It is difficult to account for such activity by Neandertals
unless it is assumed that they believed in some sort of afterlife. If they thought that their
dead relatives and friends were only food or garbage, it is highly unlikely that they would
have carefully buried them in this way.”
(http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_3.htm 2012)
12. Burial Rituals of Cro Magnon Homo Sapien
I. Unlike Neanderthals Cro Magnon were very elaborate,
the photo above is a very famous example
II. “dressed in clothing onto which more than three
thousand ivory beads had been sewn; and experiments
have shown that each bead had taken an hour to make.
They also wore carved pendants, bracelets, and shell
necklaces.The juveniles, buried head to head, were
flanked by two mammoth tusks over two yards long.
What's more, these tusks had been straightened”(IAN
TATTERSALL 1998)
13. Body Decoration
I. These kits are dated around 50,000 years ago
II. They are perforated and have colors inside of them
presumably for transport
III. Colors include dark red, to black, yellow, red
IV. Suggested use is for social status, demographic region
V. Animal teeth and bones
VI. (João Zilhão et al. 2010)
18. Bone Flutes
Between 42,000-43,000 years old
found in Geißenklösterle Germany
other similar ones being found
“They also found a collection of
perforated teeth, ornaments and
stone tools at the site.”
(JenniferWelsh 2012)
24. Red Ochre Spots on Cave Walls
• Red Ochre “dots” have been appearing on cave near walls near the
most open and safe places within caves
• 90% of cave drawings appear near these “dots”
• Suggested theory is that these “dots” were used as markers for good
areas
• A theory of echolocation is suggested for finding good areas for
safety and for open areas in caves
• (Reznikoff 2008)
25. Cave Echolocation
• Caves were dark and immense and even with fire only so much of the cave would
be lit
• Another method needed to be found to explore new caves
• Enter echolocation-not only was it possible, it was exceedingly effective
• Enabled with the genes associated with and needed for problem solving a strategy
was devised, and with the hyoid bone, Neanderthals and H. Sapiens could now use
vocal sounds as sonar
• The sounds “OH” and “MMMMM” were found to be the best for echolocation
• An experiment was carried out where a professional archeoacustic vocalist was
taken into a cave and found that it was indeed possible
• (Reznikoff 2008)
27. So How does this tie into Music?
Ideal rules for the experiment
1. Cave art and symbology is found to be in proportion to resonance,
however, it must ALSO be good for pictures
2. Most (90%) ideal resonant and pictorial locations are decorated with signs
and pictures
3. Certain signs are only accounted for in respect to resonance
4. Deep MaleVoices were known to be best for cave
exploration/echolocation as female voices would be dampened by the
cave itself
5. (Reznikoff 2008)
28. So How does this tie into Music?
Echolocation was originally used to find safe places to go that were
large and had good acoustics.
It has been suggested that these were also places of ritual and social
gathering(welsh 2012, Reznikoff 2008)
They have found bone flutes over 40,000 years old(Welsh 2012)
Cave art is found to be most plentiful where resonance and wall space
are found 90% of the time (Reznikoff 2008)
Science and Music combined to make artful expression and ritual and
evolved into the music we have today!
29. So How does this tie into Music?
Our brains began to expand allowing us for deeper thought processes and unique
problem solving skills
Genes that caused this change allowed for speech as well
They hyoid bone allowed for some vocalization and it served to aid in exploration in
caves for safe and large havens possibly for safe fire use for the tribe
The most resonant areas with plentiful cave wall space were used, later this turned
into ritualistic and celebratory areas
Celebrations and rituals included voices possibly rocks as percussion, flutes made of
animal parts, and art on walls
This possibly served to allow for a musical expansion into other areas
This needs much more exploration and research to be able to say for certain one way
or the other!
30. Bibliography
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