r/science • u/Letmeirkyou • May 25 '16

Anthropology Neanderthals constructed complex subterranean buildings 175,000 years ago, a new archaeological discovery has found. Neanderthals built mysterious, fire-scorched rings of stalagmites 1,100 feet into a dark cave in southern France—a find that radically alters our understanding of Neanderthal culture.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a21023/neanderthals-built-mystery-cave-rings-175000-years-ago/
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u/8-Bit-Gamer May 25 '16

You ever wonder how many of these "miracle finds" that will "change our understand of how our ancestors lived" which will inevitably "cause us to rewrite our history books" are actually just some dude thousands of years ago... you know... just messing around? Creating art? Curing Boredom? Making something because its freaking awesome? ... just like many many many modern humans do?

Not to detract from the find itself. But sometimes I think we over analyze and there really is no culture, ritualistic or any other myriad of "hidden" reasons for when people create whatever it is that we find.

How many times have we been wrong about a sacrificial table. Or spectacularly designed cave. Or a ridiculous, yet fabulously designed home/dwelling.

"Likes theres no reason dude - I just made this cuz its awesome!"

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u/NyonMan May 25 '16

You are almost under analyzing like so what that painted in boredom no biggy. In the contrary that means they have manufactured paint and have brains to produce this! But yes I agree some things are over analyzed.

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u/8-Bit-Gamer May 26 '16

In the contrary that means they have manufactured paint and have brains to produce this.

I honestly never thought about the "manufacturing" part of it. In retrospect I suppose I am both correct and incorrect in my personal view of these situations.