Understanding your base argument, Glenn, let me suggest you read yet
another book -- Julian Jaynes' THE ORIGIN OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE BREAKDOWN
OF THE BICAMERAL MIND. Not that I think Jaynes "has got it right," but I do
think his thesis, that humanity was really not "aware" until a late stage
of civilization, is one which needs to be argued. If his thesis is right,
then the building of walls, the practice of music and mining, etc. are not
indicative of humans as we know them today. The thesis is very well argued,
whatever one may decide about it personally.
Burgy