Steven Mithen, The Singing Neanderthals: The Origins of Music, Language, Mind, and Body

Abstract

Reviews the book, The Singing Neanderthals: The Origins of Music, Language, Mind and Body by Steven Mithen (2005). Steven Mithen, a cognitive archaeologist and professor of early prehistory at Reading University in England and author of provocative books and papers about human cognition and behavior, has armed himself with impressive knowledge in most of these subjects and boldly tackled the difficult subject of the origin and adaptive value of human music. Whether or not one is convinced by his concluding hypothesis, The Singing Neanderthals is a treasure trove of information and analysis relevant to understanding the evolution of music. Anyone who subsequently proposes another hypothesis cannot neglect the knowledge and questions set forth by Mithen nor can his conclusions be ignored, based as they are on careful consideration and synthesis of this vast range of specialist material. The footnotes alone provide an education in important relevant ideas about the evolution of music and