Discover Magazine Features Harvard Anthropology Professor Amy Clark

The Department of Anthropology at Harvard University is pleased to share a recent Discover Magazine article titled "Caves Or Valleys? The Debate Over Neanderthal Dwellings Continues" which features interview excerpts from Assistant Professor Amy E. Clark.

The article explains that "despite the challenges of tracing migration patterns, scientists have uncovered secrets of Neanderthal life, including the possibility that they built nests to sleep in," and also delves into Neanderthals' potential use of fire and other tools.

Even when scientists find Neanderthal-related evidence, they often debate as to how the objects were used or what they meant. 

“There is great evidence in rock shelters [that] they were using fires,” Clark says.

But did Neanderthals start these fires themselves? Or use fire consistently? These questions are part of an ongoing debate. 

“Some archeologists have argued that Neanderthals can’t make fire and could only steal it from natural sources,” Clark says.

Starting a fire required using tools and knowledge on how to fan and then feed the flames.  Naturally occurring fires might have come from lightning strikes or volcanic eruptions. Neanderthals could have gotten close enough to use the fire for their purposes.

The archeological record, however, isn’t consistent and doesn’t offer a clear answer. At some sites, Clark says scientists have not identified evidence of fire, and they aren’t sure what this means. 

“Why do we sometimes not see evidence of fire? Was it not as commonplace as today?” Clarks says. “That is a question that I’m very interested in, especially as I’m thinking of the meaning of the home in evolution.” 

Read the full article here.

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