Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead asked students what they thought were the first signs of civilization. The students expected Mead to talk about fishing hooks, clay pots, or worked stones. But no.
Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture is a femur that was broken and then fused together. Mead explained that if a living thing in the animal kingdom breaks a leg, it dies. With a broken leg, it cannot run away from danger, get to a river to get drunk, or hunt for food.
A fused femur is proof that someone took the time to stay with the one who suffered this injury, bandaged the wounds, carried the person to safety, and guarded them until they recovered. Helping another person during a difficult time is the act that starts civilization," Mead said. So even now, not everywhere is civilized.....
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