Modern Human Behavior
There is considerable debate regarding whether the earliest anatomically modern humans behaved similarly to recent or existing humans. Modern human behaviors characteristic of recent humans include fully modern language, the capacity for abstract thought and the use of symbolism to express cultural creativity. There are two opposing hypotheses regarding the origins of modern behavior. Some scholars argue that humans achieved anatomical modernity first, around 200kya, and only later did they adopt modern behaviors around 50kya. This hypothesis is based on the limited record of fossils from periods before 50kya and the abundance of human artifacts found after 50kya. Proponents of this view distinguish "anatomically modern humans" from "behaviorally modern humans".
The opposing view is that humans achieved anatomical and behavioral modernity simultaneously. For example, proponents of this view argue that humans had evolved a lightly built skeleton during the transition to anatomical modernity, and this could have only occurred through increased human cooperation and the increased use of technology, traits characteristic of modern behavior.
Read more about this topic: Anatomically Modern Humans
Famous quotes containing the words modern, human and/or behavior:
“I may be old-fashioned. I don’t like this modern movement.... And yet, there are certain sorts of work a woman may well do; teaching, being governess, or any taking care of children.”
—Julia Dent Grant (1826–1902)
“Translation is the paradigm, the exemplar of all writing.... It is translation that demonstrates most vividly the yearning for transformation that underlies every act involving speech, that supremely human gift.”
—Harry Mathews (b. 1930)
“There is a parallel between the twos and the tens. Tens are trying to test their abilities again, sizing up and experimenting to discover how to fit in. They don’t mean everything they do and say. They are just testing. . . . Take a good deal of your daughter’s behavior with a grain of salt. Try to handle the really outrageous as matter-of-factly as you would a mistake in grammar or spelling.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)