Neanderthal Flute
>  This discovery confirms that the Neanderthals were, like us, fully developed spiritual beings capable of sophisticated artistic expression.<p>That feels a bit like an unsupported claim to me. It may be so, I am not saying Neanderthals <i>weren't</i> spiritual beings capable of sophisticated artistic expression. I am just wondering how you would confidently conclude that from the existence of (a thing which is probably) a flute.<p>In a slightly larger sense, it feels like a lot of claims about Neanderthals do this same thing: the presence of a specific artifact becomes not only evidence of technological sophistication, but <i>proof</i> of some deeper philosophical or spiritual consequence. I'm fascinated by early hominin, and try to follow this stuff as a lay person. So much interesting progress in such a short time. But, I'm not comfortable with the level of speculation I frequently see among communicators in this field, personally.