07.25.04

Watched Scientific American Frontiers this morning. The subject was the migration of humans onto the American continent and the current debate on when it happened. That was interesting, but what really got me thinking was a demonstration of the Clovis people's spear-making practices. It's a very sophisticated (and lethal) tool that allows for quick replacement of spear heads. Seems that the fluting at the base of the spear head was designed to fit into a haft (generally made of bone) that was then attached to a wooden shaft. The design allowed for straight-line energy transferral from the thrust. According to the Smithsonian scientist demonstrating, the three-part construction left the spear head in the animal, eliminating the need to wrestle the damn things out of the carcass. The hunter would simply replace the spear head with another.

Hmmm. Standardized production of an often-used tool? Sounds like that idea's been around a lot longer that the late 18th century, doesn't it?

That set off another train of thought (see what happens when I spend too much time alone?) about pyramids and the beliefs that we generally hold about our ancestors. The idea that humans couldn't have built the pyramids (in Egypt or in the Americas) or done other amazing engineering feats (the Nazca lines, Anasazi dwellings) is wrong.

The common idea that our distant ancestors where developmentally-disabled versions of ourselves is so flawed. I think that it's an arrogant fallacy that serves to only prop up an over-inflated view of our modern superiority. We must remember that our ancestors were every bit as intelligent, creative and inventive as we are today.

Okay. I'll stop now. *grin*

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