The Ulam neanderthal tribe was the most advanced in the region until the movie's three heroes stumble upon a village of anatomically modern humans, us. The three heroes are astounded at the vast differences of cultural and technological refinements between themselves and the prehistoric modern humans.
Still, the Ulam neanderthals evinced more advanced human emotion than their rougher neighbors, the cannibalistic savage, more primitive Kzamm neanderthals, and the ape-like Wagabou homo erectus. Just be kinder to the bald, Ulam tribe firekeeper. He seems to have done his job competently all his life. He made just one mistake in dropping the fire holder. Still, the Ulam neanderthals were advanced enough to tolerate his mistake and not kill him in a rage. That showed human advancement.
Despite all the effective fire-starting methods employed by the prehistoric peoples, the discovery of the flint and hard rock technique effectively abolished all other fire-starting methods to obsolescence. When man discovered how to smelt iron and later create small quantities of low-grade steel, the flint and steel technique dominated for the following thousands of years.
Today, camping stores and outdoor survival experts still advocate a back-up ferrocerium stick and steel striker. That disposable lighter doesn't last forever.
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14 years ago
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jeffyoung1
14 years ago
I won't claim any expertise on the subject but thank you for the compliment. I just felt touched by the understanding and compassion that the Ulam tribe displayed when their firekeeper dropped the fireholder into the water. The firekeeper was obviously no brave tough hunter type. But he had kept the fire burning all his adult life. No one abused this obviously helpless man for his mistake. It was all about the tolerance and forgiveness they showed him. It also helped that the returning hero brought the secret of fire starting with him.
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