Hi there,

Although I have never paid it much attention, the prehistory of the human race turns out to be a fascinating subject. A bit of research to cloak my ignorance while writing a short piece on the new dating of cave paintings in northern Spain indicated a vast field of scientific endeavour that one can consign too readily to the sidelines of human concern.

One could develop quite a soft spot for the caveman. G. K. Chesterton prepared me for this is the first couple of chapters of The Everlasting Man -- his scintillating response to those who wanted to make God the by-product of evolution. But also from that modern oracle, Wikipedia, I have learned that there is an extensive popular literature which seems largely sympathetic to Neanderthal man (whether he lived in caves or not).

In my article there is a reference to a piece Michael Cook wrote a few years ago about a discovery which gives a poignant glimpse into the hearts of more remote human ancestors, and they come out very well on a comparison with the human race today.

To other articles, briefly: Joanna Kyriakakis writes about the Lindy Chamberlain case and the human cost of wrongful conviction; Alessandra Nucci, an Italian, does her best to defend southern Europeans against the myth that they are a bunch of layabouts compared with the Germans; George Friedman writes on the futility of European elections (what else is there?); and Dale O’Leary finds that a piece of professional breast-beating about the sexualization of girls misses the point.

Have to go. Happy reading,

Carolyn Moynihan,
Deputy Editor,
MercatorNet