The systems of perception and action of the brain appear as important constraining factors in human evolution under current models of embodied cognition. In this view, the emergence of certain items in the archeological record is not necessarily subsequent to the emergence of a 'symbolic' mind, but instead to the appearance of the sensory-motor systems enabling that behavior. One of the products normally absent in pre- Homo sapiens species is the standardized microlith, whose production seems very demanding for the hand due to their small size and need for fine craft. In the present study, we provide preliminary empirical evidence that the biomechanical requirements of microliths manufacture made this industry difficult to achieve by Neanderthals. The biomechanical parameters of the human hand in the manufacture of microliths are here explored in two individuals with different degrees of expertise. The figures obtained in this manner are subsequently contrasted and extrapolated to Neanderthal's hand anthropometric data, as obtained from the available literature. Results indicate that Neanderthals would exhibit lower efficiency than modern humans as a consequence of their smaller hands and shorter arms, resulting in a smaller area to distribute forces and an increased mechanical stress in the microlith manufacturing processes. This might be a plausibly contributing factor for precluding microlith production in Neanderthals on noticeable scales, in consonance with the archeological record.

中文翻译：

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微石制造的生物力学：尼安德特人的运动的初步方法限制在具体化的认知框架内。

在当前的内在认知模型下，大脑的感知和动作系统似乎是人类进化中的重要制约因素。按照这种观点，考古记录中某些项目的出现不一定是在“象征性”思想出现之后发生的，而是在能够使这种行为发生的感觉运动系统出现之后出现的。智人以前通常不生产的产品之一是标准化微石，由于其体积小且需要精巧的手艺，因此对手的生产要求很高。在本研究中，我们提供了初步的经验证据，表明微石制造的生物力学要求使尼安德特人难以实现该行业。本文在具有不同专业知识水平的两个人中探索了微石制造中人手的生物力学参数。随后将以这种方式获得的图形与从现有文献中获得的尼安德特人的手部人体测量数据进行对比和外推。结果表明，尼安德特人由于其较小的手和较短的手臂而表现出比现代人更低的效率，从而导致在微石制造过程中分配力的面积较小并且机械应力增大。与考古记录相一致，这可能是阻止尼安德特人以明显规模生产微石的可能原因。随后将以这种方式获得的图形与从现有文献中获得的尼安德特人的手部人体测量数据进行对比和外推。结果表明，尼安德特人由于其较小的手和较短的手臂而表现出比现代人更低的效率，从而导致在微石制造过程中分配力的面积较小并且机械应力增大。与考古记录相一致，这可能是阻止尼安德特人以明显规模生产微石的可能原因。随后将以这种方式获得的图形与从现有文献中获得的尼安德特人的手部人体测量数据进行对比并外推。结果表明，尼安德特人由于其较小的手和较短的手臂而表现出比现代人更低的效率，从而导致在微石制造过程中分配力的面积较小并且机械应力增大。与考古记录相一致，这可能是阻止尼安德特人以明显规模生产微石的可能原因。结果表明，尼安德特人由于其较小的手和较短的手臂而表现出比现代人更低的效率，从而导致在微石制造过程中分配力的面积较小并且机械应力增大。与考古记录相一致，这可能是阻止尼安德特人以明显规模生产微石的可能原因。结果表明，尼安德特人由于其较小的手和较短的手臂而表现出比现代人更低的效率，从而导致在微石制造过程中分配力的面积较小并且机械应力增大。与考古记录相一致，这可能是阻止尼安德特人以明显规模生产微石的可能原因。