FoundationalConceptsNeuroscience

eastern Africa are where most of the oldest fossils of human ancestors
have been found. These great savannas are believed to be a principal
site of ancient human evolution. A dramatic depiction of this is in the
opening scenes of Stanley Kubrick’s (1928-1999) acclaimed 1968 film
2001: A Space Odyssey.
Picture this: Africa, perhaps four million years ago—zebra,
antelope, pigs, and cats roam the savanna foraging food, attacking and
being attacked. We are introduced to early hominins, the name given
to the group of primates that includes modern humans and the ances-
tors of modern humans going back perhaps five million years. These
protohumans are shown quietly gathering food, socially interacting
in various ways, living with some fear of attack by predator animals
like big cats, comforted by companionship with one another. The ho-
minins are social creatures, living together in small groups or tribes.
We witness an encounter of one tribe with another over the use of a
watering hole. The encounter is not friendly; there is much scream-
ing, jumping around, and gesticulating. Finally one of the tribes backs
down and departs. Although the encounter is not friendly, it stops
short of violence.
Eventually there comes a discovery by one of these hominin
characters that bones can be used as tools. A femur (thigh) bone from
a dead animal is found to make an excellent tool with which to bash
things. As such, it is useful as a weapon to aid in the hunting and
killing of animals for food. It is a dramatic discovery. And then, there
is another intense scene where the same two groups of hominins
encounter one another again at the watering hole. As before, the
encounter entails much yelping and jumping around and gesticulat-
ing. However, things are different now, in that one of the tribes, but
not the other, has made the discovery that bones can be weapons. In
the midst of yelling and posturing, one of the hominins whacks his