I need extra information of the book "the clan of the cave bear"?

Question

Hello !

I’m preparing an exposition of Jean Auel’s « Clan of the Cave Bear » novel for my anthropology class.

I reeeeaaallly need to know which were the “real” tribes or clans of human (homo sapiens sapiens populations) that she used as model for her novel. I assume that all those descriptions of magic, rites, marriage, hunting came from a “combination” of real facts…

Ps: sorry about my English I just got all mixed up with French…

thankkksss

Answer 1

The two main groups Jean Auel describes are the Neanderthals (derogatorally referred to as "flatheads") and Cro Magnon man.  In terms of the subdivisions of the non flathead groups (such as the mammoth hunters and whatnot) I think she mostly based it off of the differences in the archaeological tools found in those particular geographic regions denoted as certain toolmaking horizons and traditions.

Answer 2

I don't understand the previous guy's problem but these anthro people give off such a snob attitude when they are experts in something alot of people consider useless information.  Ms Auel was able to do something that they weren't capable of doing and they resent her for it.  She spent years researching when she could have taken the easy way out and not reseached. If she is wrong it is because they are wrong which I wouldn't doubt. Just google her name and you will find lots of interesting information about her and her books.  Your English is fine. Thank you.

Answer 3

S. Academix is correct, the "flatheads" are Neanderthals and Ayla's people are Homos sapiens sapiens, aka "Cro-Magnons", but actually there is more to it--

Jean Auel studied anthropology (U. of Portland, Oregon) and based her novels on actual excavated sites. The cave of the "Clan of the Cave Bear" is a fictional recreation of Shanidar Cave in Iraq, excavated by Ralph Solecki of Columbia U. in the late 1950's. That's the only site I recognize, but the others are described by her with such detail that they are obviously also based on site reports of specific excavations

Her notion that the Neanderthals had some kind of mental telepathy is based on Julian Jaynes, /The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind/. His  thinking is rejected by most modern anthropologists and neuroscientists, but I guess it made for a more exciting novel. Current research suggests that Neanderthals were capable of speech, and didn't rely on sign language as she has them doing in her story.

Her books are an interesting mix of archaeological and protohistorical accuracy, combined with wild speculation and a large dose of of ethnocentrism--for example, the idea that an Upper Paleolithic woman  would think and act in ways so consistent with late 20th century American feminism. Essentially, she has Ayla singlehandedly inventing the Upper Paelolithic (domestication of animals, the sewing needle...) which is pretty amusing.