Renowned paleontologist speaks at the College

On Monday, April 23, the Providence College community welcomed world-renowned anthropologist and paleontologist, Dr. Ian Tattersall. Each year, eight individual professors from different disciplines within the PC academic faculty have held a special seminar focusing on a specific theme. The faculty members work together as students to study the theme, and Dr. Tattersall was invited as this year's guest lecturer. His lecture echoed the theme of the seminar: what it means to be human.

Dr. Thomas F. Strasser, assistant professor of art and art history, was thrilled to take part in sponsoring such a distinguished scholar.

"Dr. Ian Tattersall is a leading expert on Stone Age art," said Strasser.  "I am particularly interested in his research on why we started producing art (called the "creative explosion") 35,000 years ago despite the fact the modern humans (Homo sapiens) existed previously for tens of thousands of years.  His opinions are considered authoritative.  To sponsor a scholar of such high caliber is quite a feather in PC's cap, as well as a testament to accomplishments of the CTE (Center for Teaching Excellence)."

Tattersall's lecture focused on "how human beings became the extraordinary creatures they are today."

Tattersall began his lecture by speaking about the origins of man. The earliest essentially complete Hominid skeleton is known as "Lucy" and can be dated back 3.2 million years ago. Approximately 200,000 years ago, "Neanderthals" emerged. There is proof of simple burial procedures within the Neanderthal society, which signifies the beginning of feelings of humanity.

"A burial procedure conveys some form of empathy with the dead," said Tattersall, adding that modern humans can relate to burials on a higher level.

"Modern" humans originated approximately 40,000 years ago and with them came modern "anatomy and cognition." New materials were used for tools, burials became more complex, artwork and music were infused into life, and proof of language and notation emerged.

"A cultural stimulus," according to Tattersall, was responsible for the innovations of modern humans. In this particular case, language is considered the factor for our modernity.

"Symbolic thought above all differentiates us from them," Tattersall said.

He added that these modern humans had "a new capacity unlike any Hominids before." Language, as a communication factor, is oftentimes described as the sole responsibility for the depth of relationships.

Dr. Tattersall earned his undergraduate degree from Cambridge University and his doctorate from Yale University. He is the curator of the Anthropology division of the Museum of Natural History in New York City, and also manages to teach at Columbia University and the City University of New York. He is described as a specialist in the field of the human fossil and is responsible for more than 200 scientific publications.