Did Acceptance of Autism Fuel Evolutionary Success?

Time and Mind argue that integration of people with such skills into a community would have played a vital role in the development of specialists. A compelling example comes from a 2005 ethnographic study of a reindeer herder from Siberia. The man held a remarkably detailed memory of the parentage, character and medical history of each of the 2,600 reindeer under his care. The grandfather, who was a respected member of his community with a wife, son and grandchildren despite being uncomfortable in the company of other humans, made a vital contribution to the management and survival of his reindeer herd, and the community as a whole. Of course, evidence of ancient autism is hard to detect. “The archaeological record doesn’t give us a skeletal record for autism, but what it does do is give us a record for other people who have various differences and how they have been integrated.” Dr. Spikins said. Clues concerning autism’s long history can be found in cave art and other artefacts, however. “There has been a long-standing debate about identifying traits of autism in Upper Paleolithic cave art.” “We can’t say some of it was drawn by someone with autism, but there are traits that are identifiable to someone who has autism. It was also roughly at that time that we see collaborative morality emerging.” Dr Spikins explained. The study can be found here Image courtesy of University of York ]]>