According to an article I just read, Neanderthals seem to have pulled even with “early man” in terms of symbolic thinking.  Up until now, scientists apparently considered them to be  “cognitively inferior” because they showed no ability to think symbolically.  Evidence now suggests they were able (and willing) to collect sea shells and string them together, using them as ornaments that expressed their individuality – definitely an act of symbolic thinking.  “Early modern humans” apparently did the same thing, so Neanderthals have now tied the game and (presumably) the scientific community will get off their case!