Daily Devotional - January 16

History

Since the discovery of their bones in the 1800’s, Neanderthals have been presented as ignorant, evolving, humanoid ancestors to modern man. Yet over the last few decades, anthropologists have discovered that Neanderthals demonstrated sophisticated human behavior. For example, they traded jewelry, made cosmetics, developed sophisticated glues, cooked with utensils and spices, and had grave rituals. Creationists have long taught that Neanderthals were just post-Babel, fully-human descendants of Adam and Eve. They were nomadic hunters with sophisticated javelins living in shelters of hides on wooden frames and occasionally in caves.

The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has recently found and analyzed a specialized bone tool used in leather working at two French Neanderthal sites. Microscopic analysis of the tools revealed wear and tear consistent with today’s tools used to make supple, lustrous hides. In other words, Neanderthals were also great leatherworkers! Once again, science is confirming the biblical viewpoint. Neanderthals were not some primitive, subhuman creature, but fully human nomads in Europe that lived a rugged life during the Ice Age.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

~ Psalm 90:2

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett