Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern

Humans Series
Edited by
Takeru Akazawa
Research Institute, Kochi University of Technology
Kochi, 782-8502, Japan
akazawa.takeru@kochi-tech.ac.jp

Ofer Bar-Yosef
Department of Anthropology, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA
obaryos@fas.harvard.edu

The planned series of volumes will report the results of a major research project entitled
“Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning”,
offering new perspectives on the process of replacement and on interactions between
Neanderthals and modern humans and hence on the origins of prehistoric modern cultures.
The projected volumes will present the diverse achievements of research activities, originally
designed to implement the project’s strategy, in the fields of archaeology, paleoanthropology,
cultural anthropology, population biology, earth sciences, developmental psychology,
biomechanics, and neuroscience. Comprehensive research models will be used to integrate the
discipline-specific research outcomes from those various perspectives. The series, aimed mainly
at providing a set of multidisciplinary perspectives united under the overarching concept of
learning strategies, will include monographs and edited collections of papers focusing on
specific problems related to the goals of the project, employing a variety of approaches to the
analysis of the newly acquired data sets.

Editorial Board
Stanley H. Ambrose (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Kenichi Aoki (Meiji
University), Emiliano Bruner (Centro Nacional de InvestigaciÓn Sobre la EvoluciÓn Humana),
Marcus W. Feldman (Stanford University), Barry S. Hewlett (Washington State University),
Tasuku Kimura (University of Tokyo), Steven L. Kuhn (University of Arizona), Yoshihiro
Nishiaki (University of Tokyo), Naomichi Ogihara (Keio University), Dietrich Stout (Emory
University), Hiroki C. Tanabe (Nagoya University), Hideaki Terashima (Kobe Gakuin
University), Minoru Yoneda (University of Tokyo)
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11816
Yoshihiro Nishiaki • Olaf Jöris
Editors

Learning Among
Neanderthals and Palaeolithic
Modern Humans
Archaeological Evidence
Editors
Yoshihiro Nishiaki Olaf Jöris
The University Museum MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center
The University of Tokyo and Museum for Human Behavioural
Tokyo, Japan Evolution, Schloss Monrepos
Neuwied, Germany

ISSN 2365-063X ISSN 2365-0648 (electronic)

Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series
ISBN 978-981-13-8979-5 ISBN 978-981-13-8980-1 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8980-1

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is
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Preface

The Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans (RNMH) series addresses the mecha-
nisms underlying the fate of Neanderthals and the success of modern humans. To enhance
discussion around the subject, the project developed the working hypothesis that differences in
learning capacities and abilities and differences in learning strategies were decisive factors in
this replacement process. Because the replacement of Neanderthals by modern human societ-
ies was likely related to differences in the cultural adaptability of these two populations, this
hypothesis is based on the assumption that learning strategies, which are the driving forces in
innovation and in the (horizontal and vertical) transmission of cultural information, must have
also differed. In short, culture is to be learned. The study of learning behaviors is therefore
essential to understanding the complex patterns of cultural evolution and their consequences.
This hypothesis has been evaluated in an interdisciplinary framework combining contributions
from the humanities, geosciences, engineering, and biological sciences, the results of which
have been presented in other volumes within this series.
The present volume deals with archaeological approaches to understanding the learning
behaviors of Neanderthals and Palaeolithic modern humans. While the RNMH project largely
focuses on the cognitive differences in learning between the two populations, learning behav-
iors cannot be determined by innate cognitive abilities alone, as they are affected by numerous
other factors such as the size and structure of (meta-)populations and life histories on the one
hand and the social environments on the other. In other words, research on learning provides a
useful window through which past human behaviors can be viewed in their entirety. Accordingly,
archaeological records need to be interpreted from multiple perspectives, among which, their
cognitive and social backgrounds will be explored in this volume. These aspects give the struc-
ture of the present volume.
The contributions to this volume are based on six papers presented at relevant sessions of
the Second International Conference on the Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans
(RNMH2014), which took place between November 30 and December 6, 2014, in Hokkaido,
Japan, augmented by eight off-site contributions. The success of the conference is a result of
the wide-ranging support of many individuals and institutions. Among many others, here, we
would like to thank the organizing committee members: Takeru Akazawa (Kochi University of
Technology, Japan), Kenichi Aoki (Meiji University, Japan), Tomoya Aono (Date City Institute
of Funkawan Culture, Japan), Ofer Bar-Yosef (Harvard University, USA), Tasuku Kimura
(The University of Tokyo, Japan), Naomichi Ogihara (Keio University, Japan), Naoyuki
Ohshima (Date City Institute of Funkawan Culture, Japan), Hiroki C.  Tanabe (Nagoya
University, Japan), Hideaki Terashima (Kobe Gakuin University, Japan), Motomitsu Uchibori
(The Open University of Japan, Japan), and Minoru Yoneda (The University of Tokyo, Japan).
The conference and the RNMH project itself (2010–2014) were financially supported by a
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (#1201, Takeru Akazawa) from the
Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology. The publication of this
volume was made possible with its successor project, PaleoAsia 2016–2020 (#1803, Yoshihiro
Nishiaki). In the course of editing the present volume, we have appreciated the invaluable sup-
port and comments provided by Miho Suzuki and Chie Akashi (The University of Tokyo,

v
vi Preface

Japan). Last but not the least, we would like to thank the editorial staff of Springer Japan,
Yosuke Nishida and Asami Komada, who provided indispensable guidance and support for
completing this volume.

Tokyo, Japan Yoshihiro Nishiaki

Neuwied, Germany Olaf Jöris
November 2018
Contents

1 Learning Behaviors Among Neanderthals and Palaeolithic Modern

Humans: An Introduction ......................................................................................... 1
Yoshihiro Nishiaki and Olaf Jöris

Part I Cognitive Backgrounds for Learning

2 Neural Underpinnings of Creative Thinking and Tool Use:

A Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Data .................................................................. 9
Naoki Miura, Yukako Sasaki, Kunihiro Hasegawa, and Hiroki C. Tanabe
3 The Expert Performance Model of Neandertal Cognition ..................................... 23
Thomas Wynn and Frederick L. Coolidge
4 Cognitive Capacities of the Neanderthals ................................................................ 35
Marcel Otte

Part II Processes of Palaeolithic Learning

5 Mastering Hammer Use in Stone Knapping: An Experiment ............................... 59

Yoshihiro Nishiaki
6 Evidence for Neanderthal Hand Preferences from the Late Middle
Palaeolithic Site of Buhlen, Germany: Insights into Neanderthal
Learning Behaviour ................................................................................................... 77
Olaf Jöris and Natalie Uomini
7 Good and Bad Knappers Among Neanderthals ...................................................... 95
Javier Baena, Irene Ortiz, and Concepción Torres
8 The Apprentice Core: Evidence from a Lithic Refitting at the Upper
Palaeolithic Site Kyushirataki-5 in Hokkaido, Northern Japan ............................ 119
Jun Takakura and Yasuo Naoe
9 Learning Behavior of Sanukite Knapping Among the Upper Palaeolithic
Communities of Suichoen, Japan ............................................................................. 129
Shoji Takahashi and Yoshihiro Nishiaki
10 Strong Differences Between Neanderthals and AMHs Cannot Be
Inferred from Ethnographic Evidence for Skill and Learning in Hunting .......... 149
Katharine MacDonald

vii
viii Contents

Part III Socio-cultural Backgrounds for Learning

11 Marine Shells from Tor Fawaz, Southern Jordan, and Their Implications
for Behavioral Changes from the Middle to Upper
Palaeolithic in the Levant .......................................................................................... 161
Seiji Kadowaki, Taiji Kurozumi, and Donald O. Henry
12 Modeling Learning Strategies and the Expansion of the Social
Network in the Beginning of Upper Palaeolithic Europe: Analysis
by Agent-Based Simulation ....................................................................................... 179
Shiro Horiuchi and Jun Takakura
13 Transculturation Versus Acculturation: A Clarification ........................................ 193
Foni Le Brun-Ricalens
14 Ratchets and Replacement: The Potential Role of Cultural
Accumulation in the Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans ............ 207
Michael Chazan

Index .................................................................................................................................... 213

Contributors

Javier Baena Dpto. de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus

Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
Michael Chazan Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, South
Africa
Frederick L. Coolidge Center for Cognitive Archaeology, University of Colorado, Colorado
Springs, CO, USA
Kunihiro  Hasegawa Automotive Human Factors Research Center, National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
Donald O. Henry Department of Anthropology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
Shiro Horiuchi Faculty of International Tourism, Hannan University, Osaka, Japan
Olaf  Jöris MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center and Museum for Human
Behavioural Evolution, Schloss Monrepos, Neuwied, Germany
Seiji Kadowaki Nagoya University Museum, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Taiji Kurozumi Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Foni Le Brun-Ricalens Service d’Archéologie Préhistorique, Centre National de Recherche
Archéologique, Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art, Bertrange, Luxembourg
Katharine  Macdonald Faculty of Archaeology, University of Leiden, Leiden, The
Netherlands
Naoki  Miura Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, Japan
Yasuo Naoe Hokkaido Archaeological Operations Center, Ebetsu, Japan
Yoshihiro Nishiaki The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Irene Ortiz Dpto. de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus
Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
Marcel Otte Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
Yukako  Sasaki Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer,
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Shoji Takahashi Tottori Prefectural Board of Education, Tottori, Japan
Jun Takakura Archaeological Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

ix
x Contributors

Hiroki  C.  Tanabe Division of Psychology, Department of Cognitive and Psychological

Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Concepción Torres Dpto. de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,
Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
Natalie Uomini Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
Thomas Wynn Center for Cognitive Archaeology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs,
CO, USA