Origin of Language? Check the Archaeological Record December 10, 2010

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Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/11/07/Wonderfest_2010_How_Did_Evolution_Shape_Human_Behavior

David DeGusta, Research Paleontologist at the Paleoanthropology Institute, discusses how archaeologists are able to study the origins of human language through the archaeological record. He theorizes that language may have emerged around 50,000 years ago, and could be what helped modern humans triumph over the Neanderthals.

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This program was recorded at the 12th Annual Wonderfest, the San Francisco Bay Area Festival of Science.

Wonderfest's broad goals are best described by its mission statement: Through public discourse about provocative scientific questions, Wonderfest aspires to stimulate curiosity, promote careful reasoning, challenge unexamined beliefs, and encourage life-long learning.

Wonderfest achieves these ends by presenting series of scientific events to the general public. At most of these events, pairs of articulate and accomplished researchers discuss and debate compelling questions at the edge of scientific understanding. - Wonderfest 2010

David DeGusta is a Research Paleontologist at the Paleoanthropology Institute.