強いのがとりえ

(it is mostly, though not always, in the right hand.)

it is mostly, though not always, in the right hand.

(Clues to right-handedness can also be found by other methods.)

Clues to right-handedness can also be found by other methods.

(Right-handers tend to have longer, stronger, and more muscular bones on the right side,)

Right-handers tend to have longer, stronger, and more muscular bones on the right side,

(and Marcellin Boule, as long ago as 1911,)

and Marcellin Boule, as long ago as 1911,

(noted the La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neanderthal skeleton)

noted the La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neanderthal skeleton

(had a right upper arm bone that was noticeably stronger than the left.)

had a right upper arm bone that was noticeably stronger than the left.

(Similar observations have been made on other Neanderthal skeletons,)

Similar observations have been made on other Neanderthal skeletons,

(such as La Ferrassie I and Neanderthal itself.)

such as La Ferrassie I and Neanderthal itself.

(Fractures and other cut marks are another source of evidence.)

Fractures and other cut marks are another source of evidence.

(Right-handed soldiers tend to be wounded on the left.)

Right-handed soldiers tend to be wounded on the left.

(The skeleton of a 40- or 50-year-old Nabatean warrior,)

The skeleton of a 40- or 50-year-old Nabatean warrior,

(buried 2,000 years ago in the Negev Desert, Israel,)

buried 2,000 years ago in the Negev Desert, Israel,

(had multiple healed fractures to the skull, the left arm, and the ribs.)

had multiple healed fractures to the skull, the left arm, and the ribs.

(Tools themselves can be revealing.)

Tools themselves can be revealing.

(Long-handed Neolithic spoons of yew wood preserved in Alpine villages dating to 3000 B.C. have survived;)

Long-handed Neolithic spoons of yew wood preserved in Alpine villages dating to 3000 B.C. have survived;

(the signs of rubbing on their left side indicate that their users were right-handed.)

the signs of rubbing on their left side indicate that their users were right-handed.

(The late Ice Age rope found in the French cave of Lascaux)

The late Ice Age rope found in the French cave of Lascaux

(consists of fibers spiraling to the right and was therefore tressed by a righthander.)

consists of fibers spiraling to the right and was therefore tressed by a righthander.

(Occasionally, one can determine whether stone tools were used in the right hand or the left,)

Occasionally, one can determine whether stone tools were used in the right hand or the left,

(and it is even possible to assess how far back this feature can be traced.)

and it is even possible to assess how far back this feature can be traced.

(In stone toolmaking experiments, Nick Toth, a right-hander, held the core)

In stone toolmaking experiments, Nick Toth, a right-hander, held the core

((the stone that would become the tool) in his left hand and the hammer stone in his right.)

(the stone that would become the tool) in his left hand and the hammer stone in his right.

(As the tool was made, the core was rotated clockwise, and the flakes,)

As the tool was made, the core was rotated clockwise, and the flakes,

(removed in sequence, had a little crescent of cortex (the core's outer surface) on the side.)

removed in sequence, had a little crescent of cortex (the core's outer surface) on the side.

(Toth's knapping produced 56 percent flakes with the cortex on the right and 44 percent left-oriented flakes.)

Toth's knapping produced 56 percent flakes with the cortex on the right and 44 percent left-oriented flakes.

(A left-handed toolmaker would produce the opposite pattern.)

A left-handed toolmaker would produce the opposite pattern.

(Toth has applied these criteria to the similarly made pebble tools)

Toth has applied these criteria to the similarly made pebble tools

(from a number of early sites (before 1.5 million years) at Koobi Fora, Kenya,)

from a number of early sites (before 1.5 million years) at Koobi Fora, Kenya,

(probably made by Homo habilis.)

probably made by Homo habilis.

(At seven sites, he found that 57 percent of the flakes were right-oriented and 43 percent left,)

At seven sites, he found that 57 percent of the flakes were right-oriented and 43 percent left,

(a pattern almost identical to that produced today.)

a pattern almost identical to that produced today.

(About 90 percent of modern humans are right-handed:)

About 90 percent of modern humans are right-handed:

(we are the only mammal with a preferential use of one hand.)

we are the only mammal with a preferential use of one hand.

(The part of the brain responsible for fine control and movement)

The part of the brain responsible for fine control and movement

(is located in the left cerebral hemisphere,)

is located in the left cerebral hemisphere,

(and the findings above suggest that the human brain)

and the findings above suggest that the human brain

(was already asymmetrical in its structure and function not long after 2 million years ago.)

was already asymmetrical in its structure and function not long after 2 million years ago.

(Among Neanderthalers of 70,000-35,000 years ago,)

Among Neanderthalers of 70,000-35,000 years ago,

(Marcellin Boule noted that the La Chapelle-aux-Saints individual)

Marcellin Boule noted that the La Chapelle-aux-Saints individual

(had a left hemisphere slightly bigger than the right,)

had a left hemisphere slightly bigger than the right,

(and the same was found for brains of specimens from Neanderthal, Gibraltar, and La Quina.)

and the same was found for brains of specimens from Neanderthal, Gibraltar, and La Quina.