Left-Handedness Common In Ice Age

BBC ^ | 2-14-2004 | Dr David Whitehouse

[blam]

Left-handedness common in Ice Age

By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor

A right-hand print signifys left-handedness

The fraction of left-handed people today is about the same as it was during the Ice Age, according to data from prehistoric handprints. They were found in caves painted during the Upper Palaeolithic period, between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago.

Left-handedness may have conferred prehistoric man advantages, such as in combat, say the researchers.

The research is published in the February issue of the journal Biology Letters.

Evolutionary advantages

When Stone Age man produced their remarkable cave paintings they often left handprints on the walls produced by blowing pigments from one hand through a tube held by the other hand.

Charlotte Faurie and Michel Raymond at the University of Montpellier, France, deduced the prehistoric cave painters' handedness by spraying paint against cave walls to see which hand they pressed against the wall, and therefore did not use for drawing.

Looking at 507 handprints from 26 caves in France and Spain, they deduced that 23% of them were right-handed, which indicated that they were made by left-handers.

In the general population today about 12% are left-handed, though populations vary considerably, between 3 and 30%.

Because handedness has a genetic component the researchers wondered why the proportion of left-handers should have remained so constant over 30,000 years - the age of the oldest cave studied.

They suggest that because left-handedness is relatively rare it provides certain advantages over those who are right-handed, such as in solo and group fighting.

The researchers say their findings add to the evidence that the evolutionary forces that cause right- and left-handedness are independent of culture.

[CapandBall]

certain advantages over those who are right-handed, such as in solo and group fighting

I don't buy it. The heart is on the left side. To fight with your right hand and/or leg keeps your heart further from danger.

[Swordmaker]

Because handedness has a genetic component the researchers wondered why the proportion of left-handers should have remained so constant over 30,000 years - the age of the oldest cave studied.

And exactly how did they determine the age of the CAVE? Don't they mean the age of the HANDPRINTS???

Looking at 507 handprints from 26 caves in France and Spain, they deduced that 23% of them were right-handed, which indicated that they were made by left-handers.

And who determined that the handprints were from different people? Perhaps it was ONE inspired, left-handed artist who brought some right handed friends in... Or, perhaps the "artist" used someone else's hand on the wall while he (PC: or she) used his/her right hand to blow.

Again, this is "Motel of the Ages" nose picking by archaeologists who really haven't got a clue.

[Swordmaker]

They suggest that because left-handedness is relatively rare it provides certain advantages over those who are right-handed, such as in solo and group fighting.

One further thought. Research seems to indicate that the prevalence of left-handedness among artists is somewhat higher than would be expected. Perhaps it is the creativity caused by being a lefty attempting to compensate for living in a right-handed world.

I wouldn't know... I'm ambidextrous.

[Consort]

They had two left hands in those days. The right hand wasn't invented until about 7000 years ago

[BaylorDad]

On the other side my cousin does everything right-handed, except shoot a gun and play pool.

I do everything left-handed except shoot a long gun. I was taught early that it was not good to have a sell eject in front of your face. Left-handed rifles and shotguns are rare.

[Ophiucus]

Exactly what I was thinking. Combine this with the other freeper's idea that the owner of the hand may not be the artist and it makes a lot of sense.

Good idea - present your best side for the artist. :-)

[Ophiucus]

However, the preference does necessarily follow the choice of forelimb dominance. A great many, if not most, of the asymmetries in function of organs in “bilateral” animals (including humans) is independent of “handedness.”

True, some do, some don't - but it show that a side preference is a wider, intrinsic property.

[dtel]

Left-handed rifles and shotguns are rare.

I love my bottom eject shotgun, but yes my cousin does order his left-handed rifles.

[Mercat]

I'm right eyed and left handed. I get more left dominant as I get older. Any other lefties out there experience that? Sort of new agey but feels more and more like more and more of me is over there.

[Lucky Dog]

True, some do, some don't - but it show that a side preference is a wider, intrinsic property.

My earlier post pointed out that "intrinsically" animals other humans that demonstrate a preference for use a particular forelimb over another are pretty evenly divided among left and right. Humans are not evenly divided. Therefore, without some "natural selection" mechanism, there seems to be no "intrinsic" reason for the preeminence of human right handedness. The question I posited was whether the dominance choice was culturally driven into the genetic selection as opposed to "naturally" driven.

[gcruse]

I think the world is divided into...

There are 10 kinds of people   Those who can
read binary, and those who cannot.

[Carry_Okie]

Bad pun. ;-p

Ah but a work of pathetic license wielded with great dexterity!

No?

[Calvin Locke]

...23% of them were right-handed...

It sort of gives weight to the theory of more creativeness in right brained people.

Look how creative Bill Clinton is in lying all time.

FWIW, lefties have a better chance of surviving strokes, tend to suffer from allergies more than righties...

Me? I throw and bat right, write right, played lacrosse left, eat left, and if I played polo, I'd most definitely play right handed.

[dtel]

I don't notice myself getting more left dominant with age.
Everything still seems about normal,
all screwed up. LOL

[RockyMtnMan]

I did, my son chose his left hand to write with, throw with, etc. My wife and I did not try to alter that decision. He is a very creative child, probably because lefties use the right side of their brain more than the left.

[Betteboop]

You have to stop drinking before you go to bed!!! :)

[winker]

I am a proud Lefthanded person and love to rub shoulders a couple of other lefthanded people who didn't turn out too bad. Ever heard of Michaelangelo or Leonardo DA Vinci?

[Redcloak]

It was a very strange experience. I could feel the arm move, but it didn't look like anything was happening. I was aware of that little disconnect. I tried to turn my head to look at my arm, but again, nothing seemed happen. I didn't notice at the moment, but the right side of the room moved just a bit as I tried to turn my head. The left side of the room stayed still. And it was quite a shock to see a hand suddenly appear above me! I needed that drink after getting up from bed!

[Betteboop]

I'm a lefty, too--but never had an experience like that!!

[onyx]

I am also like that.
I eat and write left-handed and do virtually everything else right-handed.
I couldn't kick or throw a ball left-handed to save my life.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I kick a ball wiith my right foot also.
And we're both very smart too, aren't we?