How Does Neanderthals Use Language?

less distinct than our own. This would have presented a language barrier far more vast than any in existence today between two dialects. Multi-Regionalists tend to argue in favor of the Neanderthal’s capability to use language. A major genetic piece of evidence that they call upon to support their assertion is the existence of the FoxP2, “language”, gene which is prevalent in Neanderthals. Although this gene does contribute greatly to the human comprehension of language it is not significant enough to hold up speech capabilities on its own. “...FoxP2 is not unique to humans. Quite the opposite, versions of this gene are found in remarkably similar forms in a great many vertebrate species (including primates, rodents, birds, reptiles, and
fish) and it seems to be active in corresponding parts of the brain in these different animals.” (Fisher et al.). Finally, it is the Neanderthal technologies and hunting patterns which we must assess in regard to how they met their demise. As quoted in African Exodus:
Lewis Binford, of southern methodist University, has studied several sites and has suggested that (Neanderthal) hunters-presumably male brought back no small mammal bones back to their family shelters: no rabbits, no foxes, no rodents. Yet it was hard to imagine they were not eating these creatures , argues Binfold, since every other large carnivore does. The only likely explanation, therefore, is that they must have been eating them in the field...Neanderthals killed and ate much more on their own. They were far less socially cohesive in their behavior than Homo sapiens. (Stringer and McKie 106).