Imitation and Shared Intentionality in the Acheulean

Abstract

Imitation and shared intentionality are traits essential to the socio-cultural adaptation of Homo sapiens. Non-human apes display some capacity for imitation and shared intentionality, but are deficient in comparison to Homo sapiens. The Acheulean archaeological record provides evidence that imitation and shared intentionality were part of the behavioural repertoire of the hominins manufacturing that industry. The palaeoneurological record suggests some early Homo specimens possessed the neural architecture associated with modern human imitation. From this evidence it is suggested that a propensity for imitation and shared intentionality evolved soon after 2 million years ago.