The Spirit in Human Evolution - Waldorf Research Institute

Darwinian psychology or socio-biology. Obviously no such thoughts are entirely free of
preconceptions and one could argue that my assertion that there is a spiritual dimension
to the human being, and has been all along in human evolution, could be deemed as such.
My reply is to reiterate that the spiritual can be experienced and is therefore self-evident.
Since we do not have a living specimen before us, we must do with the fragments
available to us from archaeology. Can we create enough of a picture of Heidelberg life
for us to gain a few hints about their consciousness? Some of the glimpses archaeology
provides for us are helpful. Clive Gamble of Southampton University who has spent
many years excavating Boxgrove found a piece of antler from a now extinct giant deer
species skillfully fashioned into a specialized mallet, probably used in the production of
stone tools. The tool fits perfectly into the hand and was clearly used over a long period
of time (minute fragments of flint were embedded into it). As Gamble put it, this tool
was valued by its owner, was carried around (in a pocket or bag?) until it was finally
lost. He calls it the first known human possession! 6 This implies a high level of foresight
and continuity of consciousness. These are significant qualities.
Adding Detail to the Picture
If we add to this image the Schöningen wooden spears, made some 100,000 years
after Boxgrove, but still 400,000 years ago, other aspects of Heidelberg consciousness
arise. Firstly these spears show a technical knowledge of astounding maturity; they are
perfectly weighted like modern Olympic javelins and have been cut from branches of
slow growing and therefore very strong trees. The spear ends have been expertly split
to take stone spear points. They were clearly made to be thrown from a distance. Apart
from the technical skill involved, which itself speaks of foresight, learning and practice,
the consciousness that enables the thought of using a spear is a particular one. To stand
back, no doubt having stalked or driven prey into a convenient position, then let loose an
aimed throw this shows a powerful distancing of self and world yet also a strong focus
on the target. Anyone who has thrown javelins at targets will be able to experience just
this balance of inner and outer focus. Hartmut Thieme, discoverer of the spears, spoke
of “a lovely lake with herds of horses drinking at the shoreline. Humans hiding in the
bushes. At the right moment they leaped out, throwing spears. Since the horses wouldn’t
run into the water, it was easy to catch them.” 7 To begin to understand what this means
in terms of consciousness one must live into such a picture, again and again.
Preparation and Gathering of Material
At some sites, such as Boxgrove, where large areas have been investigated, it
is possible to reconstruct sequences in the activities of Heidelberg people. Firstly flint
nodules were dug from the bottom of a cliff and some rough trimming done on the spot.
The stones were then taken some 500 meters to another place where they were worked
further. Flakes were knapped, used and then discarded. Usually local materials were
used, but there is evidence that some were brought from distances of up to 10 or 15 kms
(in rare cases even further). Some tools were probably part of the basic equipment, such
as the multipurpose wooden point or spear made out of yew and found at Clacton, or
those beautifully made spears from Schöningen in Germany. The picture we have is of
a people on the move, taking only what was absolutely essential with them, living in
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6
Quoted in McKie, 2000, Ape Man, p126.
7
Quoted in National Geographic Vol. 192, No. 1, July 1997, p109.
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