I think it would be impossible to prove but it is possible that reptiles pre-Tertiary had developed some higher-level brain functioning, although if I was a betting man, I'd say it isn't likely.

There are definitely some interesting parallels between biological and cultural evolution. I was reading this today:

"Evolution can in general be seen as a learning process, during which the evolving system accumulates knowledge or information about how best to survive and thrive in its environment. This has been argued by evolutionary epistemology that all evolutionary adaptation as a form of knowledge. Its main idea is that evolution is a problem-solving process based on trial-and-error, where the successful trails are selectively retained or “memorized” – thus adding to the evolving system’s store of knowledge, whereas the errors are eliminated.

There is a strong selective pressure on all evolutionary systems in society: whenever there is a competition between individuals, groups, institutions, technologies or – most generally – systems of action, then, the more productive one will win."

In terms of brain systems, it seems as though when the neocortex is organized in certain ways, it can produce higher level brain functioning. Now I am just interested as to why certain patterns seem to be more productive than others and why.