Glen R. Stott's Blog, page 3
June 5, 2013
Spirit Fire - Ötzi - Iceman
In September 1991, a 5,000-year-old mummy was found in the Ӧtztal Alps. His body was preserved naturally in the ice fields near the border between Italy and Austria. Preserved with him were his clothes along with the implements and tools that he used in his daily life. An autopsy revealed that he most probably died from an arrow wound that entered his back near his left shoulder. It appeared that the point had severed an artery and the “Iceman,” as he was called, died of blood loss. He had also sustained several other wounds, and the point of his flint dagger was broken off. Because he was preserved in ice, he was first called the Iceman. He is better known now as Ötzi.
Ötzi plays and important role in the novel “Spirit Fire,” book two of the Neandertal trilogy where his name is Sincolad. The mystery of how and why he was killed is revealed in this book, which chronicles his last days and his murder and the epic voyage of his son, Tincolad, as he travels from the Alps, through Pakistan, across the Himalayan Mountains, through the Gobi Desert, down the Lena River in Russia to the Artic Sea, and eventually to the Yukon River in search of revenge.
In “Spirit Fire” an ancient alliance between the decedents of Neandertals (Earth People) and the decedents of Cro-Magnons (Sun People) is threatened by a powerful army from the west (where Sincolad, Ötzi, lived and died). The invading army is led by a great warrior leader, Warlog. In the backdrop of war and destruction, Tincolad is tempted by love to abandon his revenge and turn on his people.
The tools, artifacts, weapons, tattoos, even the food that up made Ötzi’s last meal play a part in the development of the characters, culture, and religion of Ötzi’s people in “Spirit Fire.”
Ötzi plays and important role in the novel “Spirit Fire,” book two of the Neandertal trilogy where his name is Sincolad. The mystery of how and why he was killed is revealed in this book, which chronicles his last days and his murder and the epic voyage of his son, Tincolad, as he travels from the Alps, through Pakistan, across the Himalayan Mountains, through the Gobi Desert, down the Lena River in Russia to the Artic Sea, and eventually to the Yukon River in search of revenge.
In “Spirit Fire” an ancient alliance between the decedents of Neandertals (Earth People) and the decedents of Cro-Magnons (Sun People) is threatened by a powerful army from the west (where Sincolad, Ötzi, lived and died). The invading army is led by a great warrior leader, Warlog. In the backdrop of war and destruction, Tincolad is tempted by love to abandon his revenge and turn on his people.
The tools, artifacts, weapons, tattoos, even the food that up made Ötzi’s last meal play a part in the development of the characters, culture, and religion of Ötzi’s people in “Spirit Fire.”
May 27, 2013
Heart of the Bison - The Neandertals
“Heart of the Bison” is a novel about Neandertals. What is a Neandertal? The evolutionary trail of mankind leads back to Africa. As the lush jungle of East Africa dried out over 4 million years ago, the primates in the jungle had to evolve or go extinct. They stood on their hind legs and progressed through many stages of evolution such as Australopithecines, Homo habilis, and Homo erectus. About 200,000 years ago a group of the African Homo erectus that had moved to Europe evolved into the first Homo sapiens. These were Homo sapiens neanderthalensis—the Neandertals.
From the size of the Neandertal skull we can tell their brains were a little bit bigger than those of modern men. Based on that, we would expect them to be as smart as modern man. Over a period of about 150,000 years, modern men have moved from stone tools to the world we see today, but Neandertals lived in Europe and the Middle East for a similar period of time and their stone tools show little progression. In fact, in nearly every measurable way, Neandertals were slow-witted and backward.
How can this difference be explained, given the size of Neandertal brains? The answer lies in examining the part of the brain that expanded. We know that creativity and problem solving functions of the brain lie in the frontal lobes. The back of the brain deals to some extent in functions like instinct and inherited knowledge. The skulls of the Cro-Magnons (Homo sapiens sapiens - us) have very high foreheads to house greatly expanded frontal lobes. Neandertals, however, have a large bun at the back of their heads and significantly lower foreheads. Cro-Magnons have massively expanded powers of creativity compared to any other living thing on the Earth. Would it not be expected that Neandertals would have massively expanded powers related to instinct and inherited knowledge compared to any other living thing?
This is true in the Neandertal culture I created for “Heart of the Bison.” Their language and tool making abilities are inherited rather than learned. In addition, their physical powers such as sight, smell, and hearing are significantly advanced.
From the size of the Neandertal skull we can tell their brains were a little bit bigger than those of modern men. Based on that, we would expect them to be as smart as modern man. Over a period of about 150,000 years, modern men have moved from stone tools to the world we see today, but Neandertals lived in Europe and the Middle East for a similar period of time and their stone tools show little progression. In fact, in nearly every measurable way, Neandertals were slow-witted and backward.
How can this difference be explained, given the size of Neandertal brains? The answer lies in examining the part of the brain that expanded. We know that creativity and problem solving functions of the brain lie in the frontal lobes. The back of the brain deals to some extent in functions like instinct and inherited knowledge. The skulls of the Cro-Magnons (Homo sapiens sapiens - us) have very high foreheads to house greatly expanded frontal lobes. Neandertals, however, have a large bun at the back of their heads and significantly lower foreheads. Cro-Magnons have massively expanded powers of creativity compared to any other living thing on the Earth. Would it not be expected that Neandertals would have massively expanded powers related to instinct and inherited knowledge compared to any other living thing?
This is true in the Neandertal culture I created for “Heart of the Bison.” Their language and tool making abilities are inherited rather than learned. In addition, their physical powers such as sight, smell, and hearing are significantly advanced.
May 21, 2013
Heart of the Bison - The Purpose
In junior high school, in the late 1950s, I developed a desire to write a novel about what it would be like if Neandertals had survived to live in today’s world. I have read several novels that address the question. “Neanderthal” by John Darnton and “Ember from the Sun” by Mark Canter are interesting examples, but neither does what I wanted to do. The first step for my story involves providing a logical explanation of how some Neandertals were able to survive the extinction of their kind. “Heart of the Bison,” the first book in the Neandertal trilogy, answers that question.
“Heart of the Bison” provides a culture and religion for Neandertals that is based upon archeological data. Because the seminal cause of the extinction of Neandertals is the arrival of Cro-Magnons in Europe and the Middle East, a culture and religion are also provided for the Cro-Magnons. There is no evidence of a conflict between these major branches of the human race, but two things seem clear. First, the technology and thinking process of Cro-Magnons gave them the deciding advantage in making use of the limited resources of the environment. Second, there is convincing evidence that Neandertals and Cro-Magnons occasionally interbred.
“Heart of the Bison” addresses themes that are relevant in the world today, including the justification for war, caring for the environment, and showing that determination is often the key to success when the goal seems impossible. The reader will gain a greater appreciation for the Neandertal’s humanness as preparation of the next two books of the trilogy.
“Heart of the Bison” provides a culture and religion for Neandertals that is based upon archeological data. Because the seminal cause of the extinction of Neandertals is the arrival of Cro-Magnons in Europe and the Middle East, a culture and religion are also provided for the Cro-Magnons. There is no evidence of a conflict between these major branches of the human race, but two things seem clear. First, the technology and thinking process of Cro-Magnons gave them the deciding advantage in making use of the limited resources of the environment. Second, there is convincing evidence that Neandertals and Cro-Magnons occasionally interbred.
“Heart of the Bison” addresses themes that are relevant in the world today, including the justification for war, caring for the environment, and showing that determination is often the key to success when the goal seems impossible. The reader will gain a greater appreciation for the Neandertal’s humanness as preparation of the next two books of the trilogy.
