We propose that the cognitive mechanisms that enable the transmission of cultural
knowledge by communication between individuals constitute a system of 'natural …

We propose that human communication is specifically adapted to allow the transmission of
generic knowledge between individuals. Such a communication system, which we call …

" Over the last three million years or so, our lineage has diverged sharply from those of our
great ape relatives. Change has been rapid (in evolutionary terms) and pervasive …

Behavioral archaeology offers a way of examining the past by highlighting human
engagement with the material culture of the time.'Behavioral Archaeology: Principles and …

Humanity has regarded itself as intellectually superior to other species for millennia, yet
human cognitive uniqueness remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluate candidate traits …

Teaching is present in all human societies, while within other species it is very limited.
Something happened during the evolution of Homo sapiens that also made us Homo …

Theory and empirical data from a variety of disciplines strongly imply that recent human
history involves extensive gene-culture coevolution, much of it as a direct result of human …

The later Pleistocene archaeological record of southernmost Africa encompasses several
Middle Stone Age industries and the transition to the Later Stone Age. Through this period …

Many species are known to acquire valuable life skills and information from others, but until
recently it was widely believed that animals did not actively facilitate learning in others …

This paper contributes to a debate in the palaeoarchaeological community about the major
time-lag between the origin of anatomically modern humans and the appearance of typically …