ANTH V 1007x Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Uncanny Valley, Knapping, Hand Axe
29 Sep 2016
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The closer we get to what we consider humans, the stranger it seems (uncanny valley) Around 300 thousand years bp, hominins seem very close to humans but also extremely different at the same time. Image of the caveman elicits bias, modern-day humans look down upon neanderthals more than they look down upon lucy or other earlier hominids. Described at beasts because of hunched skeleton, in actuality, evidence of old age. Corpse as a near-human (also uncanny- causes discomfort) Chimps" reactions to the dead: the corpses of their relatives are treated differently than other objects, treated as special member of group. Mother carries offspring on her back after it has died but seems to understand its different from the living offspring. Chimps inspected corpse to understand what it is, not inspected as a living chimp would be. Spatial tension: stand far enough away to keep distance but close enough to watch over.
