Du Paléolithique moyen au Paléolithique supérieur... (7) - Jean-Jacques Hublin (2025-2026)

Item: Du Paléolithique moyen au Paléolithique supérieur... (7) - Jean-Jacques Hublin (2025-2026)
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by Solange Rigaud

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Archaeology NKArchaeology NKDArchaeology by period

🎙 Solange Rigaud 👥 29K 📅 June 23, 2026 ⏱ 27 min 👁 3K 📄 lecture 🧭 2026-08-06

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

paruretransition paléolithiqueHomo sapiensNéandertalsymbolisme

Summary

In this lecture, Solange Rigaud, a researcher at PACEA, discusses the evolutionary history of personal ornaments during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. She begins by emphasizing the role of collective innovation and social connectivity in human cultural success. She then reviews the earliest known ornaments in Africa, dating back to 140,000 years ago, which are predominantly perforated shells. She highlights a chronological gap between 70,000 and 55,000 years ago, followed by the appearance of disc-shaped beads made from ostrich eggshell. She also presents a neuroimaging study conducted with colleagues, showing that reading culturally modified faces activates brain networks related to memory, language, and social cognition. Moving to Europe, she contrasts the sparse and fragmented evidence of Neanderthal ornament use (naturally perforated shells, raptor claws, feathers) with the abundant and diverse ornaments found after 45,000 years ago, associated with the arrival of Homo sapiens. She discusses the ongoing debate about whether these ornaments were made by Homo sapiens or Neanderthals, noting the lack of clear human remains and the complexity of stratigraphic contexts. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of modern excavations to resolve these questions.

186 words

Critical Evaluation

The lecture provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of personal ornaments during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. Solange Rigaud, a recognized specialist, presents the material in a clear and engaging manner, suitable for an academic audience. The content is well-structured, moving from a global perspective (Africa) to a regional one (Europe), and integrates recent research, including a neuroimaging study that adds an interdisciplinary dimension. The argumentation is solid, based on archaeological evidence and published studies, and she appropriately highlights the limitations and debates, such as the attribution of ornaments to Homo sapiens or Neanderthals. The sources cited are credible, including the Collège de France and the PACEA research unit. The title accurately reflects the content. The lecture does not oversimplify complex issues and acknowledges uncertainties, which enhances its scientific rigor. However, it is a lecture rather than a peer-reviewed article, so some interpretations may be subject to further scrutiny. Overall, the information is reliable and valuable for understanding the cultural dynamics of this period.

165 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which is the seventh part of a colloquium on the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition, focusing on personal ornaments.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The lecture is given by a specialist (Solange Rigaud, UMR 5199 PACEA) in a prestigious institutional setting (Collège de France). It presents current scientific knowledge and debates, with references to published studies. The content is well-structured and based on archaeological evidence, though some interpretations remain debated.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Collège de France - Colloque: Du Paléolithique moyen au Paléolithique supérieur — Official page of the colloquium where this lecture was given.
Chaire Paléoanthropologie - Jean-Jacques Hublin — Chair of Paleoanthropology at Collège de France, which organized the colloquium.
Playlist of the colloquium — YouTube playlist containing all lectures from the colloquium.

Concurring Sources

Collège de France — Institution hosting the lecture, known for high-quality scientific dissemination.
PACEA research unit — Research unit where Solange Rigaud works, specializing in prehistoric archaeology.

External References

Contribution & Novelties

This lecture provides a synthesis of current knowledge on personal ornaments during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition, integrating recent research and highlighting the ongoing debate about their makers. It offers a comparative perspective between Africa and Europe, and introduces an interdisciplinary neuroimaging study that links ornament use to cognitive capacities.

Pour aller plus loin :

Symbolic behavior in Homo sapiens — Overview of the concept of behavioral modernity and its archaeological signatures.
Neanderthal behavior — Discussion of Neanderthal symbolic behaviors, including ornament use.
Upper Paleolithic — Context of the period and cultural developments.

94 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity, quality, and reliability, with a moderate technical level. This indicates a well-informed lecture that is accessible to a broad audience while maintaining scientific depth.

Reliability 8/10