Palaeontological indications of the appearance of speech

What can palaeontological science contribute to defining circumstances and conditions of the origin of speech abilities? Two ways are successively tried: anatomical and behavioural.o(1)The identification among fossil hominids of some anatomical features (both skeletal and neurological) provides negative evidence in so far as they manifest a potential openness to development of language among Australopithecines and contemporary Homo habilis, although no direct demonstration of its actual existence can be proposed.(2)The interpretation of hominid cooperative hunting behaviour as well as its tcol-making instrumentation and other requirements suggest that some primitive concrete symbolization was available beyond a close call-system, since the time of the first flaking industries, of the late Pliocene