Mithen, Steven J.,

The singing neanderthals : the origins of music, language, mind, and body / Steven Mithen. - ix, 374 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

"First published in 2005 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd, London"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-360) and index.

The need for an evolutionary history of music -- The present. More than cheesecake? : the similarities and differences between music and language ; Music without language : the brain, aphasia, and musical savants ; Language without music : acquired and congenital amusia ; The modularity of music and language : music processing within the brain ; Talking and singing to baby : brain maturation, language learning, and perfect pitch ; Music hath charms and can heal : music, emotion, medicine, and intelligence -- The past. Grunts, barks and gestures : communication by monkeys and apes ; Songs on the savannah : the origin of 'hmmmm' communication ; Getting into rhythm : the evolution of bipedalism and dance ; Imitating nature : communication about the natural world ; Singing for sex : is music a product of sexual selection? ; The demands of parenthood : human life history and emotional development ; Making music together : the significance of cooperation and social bonding ; Neanderthals in love : 'hmmmmm' communication by homo neanderthalensis ; The origin of language : the origin of homo sapiens and the segmentation of 'hmmmmm' ; A mystery explained, but not diminished : modern human dispersal, communicating with the Gods, and the remnants of 'hmmmmm'.

"Music is the language of emotion, common wisdom tells us. In The Singing Neanderthals, Steven Mithen introduces us to the science that might support such popular notions. He marshals current evidence about social organization, tool and weapon technologies, hunting and scavenging strategies, habits and brain capacity of all our hominid ancestors, from australopithecenes to Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis and Neanderthals to Homo sapiens - and comes up with a scenario for a shared musical and linguistic heritage."--Jacket.

0674021924 9780674021921

2005030187


Music--Psychological aspects
Human evolution
Evolution (Biology)
Music--History.

ML3800 / .M73 2006

780.901