This article provides our reasoning for doubting the evidence for Pleistocene social complexity provided by Graeber and Wengrow in their recent book the Dawn of Everything. This article also discusses some lingering problems concerning the social structure of both early hominins and early modern humans. Part 1 puts the discussion in context. Part 2 looks closely at Graeber and Wengrow's example of Dolni Vestonice. Part 3 discusses Dolni Vestonice in its relationship to other archaeological evidence and to some of Graeber and Wengrow’s other examples. Part 4 concludes with a discussion of why such a discussion of what social and economic conditions tend to foster equality remains important.