Taxacom: earliest recorded taxonomists?

[John Grehan]

A new study reports on a collection of 15 marine fossils from a Neanderthal
site in Spain that appear to be carefully chosen and kept. This find is
interpreted to show that Neanderthals may have been avid collectors — with
a taste for marine fossils — much like humans today. The commentary (Web
article) asked why did Neanderthals collect these fossils? It’s a puzzling
question that scientists are still trying to answer. The study proposes a
range of reasons, from simple decoration to economic motives, or even a
collection of children, noting that the collection of objects is
characteristic of childhood, and remains of Neanderthal children were found
at the site.

Blimey, what about collection of objects being characteristic of adulthood
for millions of people? Anyway, they missed out the obvious answer - these
neanderthals were early taxonomists, doing what all taxonomists do -
collecting voucher specimens.

John Grehan

-- 
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhepialidsoftheworld.com.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C98d1a816cea141adec7608dd09f0b28a%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638677651588426515%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zPhqFYVYXdD9cT%2Fu9VYwHiktJ3ZMfgdfJFPYcFE2hyI%3D&reserved=0 (use the 'visit archived web site'
link, then the 'Ghost Moth Research page' link.