Abstract
What can palaeontological science contribute to defining circumstances and conditions of the origin of speech abilities? Two ways are successively tried: anatomical and behavioural. o (1) The identification among fossil hominids of some anatomical features (both skeletal and neurological) provides negative evidence in so far as they manifest a potential openness to development of language among Australopithecines and contemporary Homo habilis , although no direct demonstration of its actual existence can be proposed. (2) The interpretation of hominid cooperative hunting behaviour as well as its tcol-making instrumentation and other requirements suggest that some primitive concrete symbolization was available beyond a close call-system, since the time of the first flaking industries, of the late Pliocene.
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