Human or Animal:

Hi,

My name is Amelia, 15 years old, and I'm a member of the Paleo Experts.

I'd like to give you a glimpse into what we did during our last meeting, "Archaeology, from excavation to narratives," on November 4, 2023.

The afternoon was divided into two parts. The first part involved a discussion about a documentary called "Neanderthal Legacy" (here's the link for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvmx1bBxUKg). Prof. Marie Soressi, archaeologist and the creator of this documentary, was present and listened to our feedback, taking notes accordingly.

The documentary delves into the general lifestyle of Neanderthals, exploring aspects such as tools, hunting, and migration. Additionally, it provides insights into the various methods used by researchers. I found it fascinating that archaeologists sometimes use red light to more precisely date excavation finds.

I must admit the discussion dragged on a bit as the documentary was quite extensive. As someone with little knowledge of technical terms and not having delved deeply into Neanderthal studies, I didn't grasp much

After a break, we moved on to the second part led by Karel Kuipers. His session focused on the differences between humans and animals. We formed small groups and created mind maps. Many results emerged, such as religion, communication and our work-life. It may sound simple at first, but delving deeper into these topics made it challenging to find a precise distinction between us and animals.

Once all groups finished, we compared and discussed our results. Personally, I found the second part more relaxed as it prompted me to think. Expressing oneself was different from the first part's discussion, and collaborating with others was enjoyable.

I found the overall day quite intriguing and look forward to the next meeting, where we'll explore Neanderthal stereotypes.

Best, Amelia