Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Upper Paleolithic ArtSymbolic thought lies at the heart of three hallmarks of modern human culture: language, art, and religionOur expanded cerebral cortex allowsabstract thought through language,and ability to link symbols withcomplex meaningsSymbolism: any object, sign,gesture, or vocal expression thatin some way refers to or representssomething beyond itselfThe nature and extent of symbolic activitiesin Middle Paleolithic is debated:Limited evidence, sharply different fromwhat we find in Upper PaleolithicBut we see beginnings of symbolism in Middle Paleolithic in:Use of colorPersonal ornamentsBurialsUse of color: (Middle Paleolithic)Find lumps of color pigments, especiallyochre (red to yellow) and black manganese dioxideSome with wear patterns, some on grinding stonesSome claims for ochre-stained animal bone and stone tools70,000 yr old engravedochre artifact fromMiddle Stone Age depositsat Blombos Cave, South Africahttp://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SU/caveart.phpPersonal ornaments: (Middle Paleolithic)Have found pendants made of bone and stone,and ostrich eggshell beadsDeliberate human burials:Suggest care for the dead, perhaps a beliefin life after deathDebate about whether any objects (grave goods)deliberately placed in the graves or not:utilitarian objects(Feder & Park 2001:336)It is not until 40,000 years ago, in the UpperPaleolithic, that we see highly creativesymbolic traditions developWidespread use of ochreBurials with grave goodsPersonal ornaments proliferate, suggesting increasing sense of self and group identityRepresentational artBurials: (Upper Paleolithic)Beginning 35,000 ya, intentional burials occurmuch more frequently than beforeFound throughout the Old World except few inMiddle East or South AfricaUsually inhumations (burial in the ground), but at Lake Mungo, Australia, a cremation dating to 40,000 yaIn Europe a common pattern: body slightly flexed ochre commonly used body was dressed in clothes decorated with ivory beads, pendants made of animal teeth, and shells. Utilitarian grave goods, such as spearsCreative explosion beginning about 35,000 yaPeople carved, engraved (using burins),modeled, and painted on stone, bone, antler, ivory, clay, and rock wallsIn other words, presented symbolic messages onmany different media, using many formshttp://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/paleoimg.htmlCarved atlatl (spear thrower) hookIncised pebble showingrhino in summer coat32,000 yr-old engraved antler plaque, France?calendar?Sculptures:Found in Europe from at least 32,000-10,000 ya. So-called Venus figurines widespread, from France to Siberia.(Feder & Park 2001)Style very similar despite wide geographic spread.Made of variety of raw materials: stone, ivory, antler, baked clay.Faceless or with faces; exaggerated breasts, buttocks, often swollen stomachs or pregnant, and some in birthing position. Thought to be associated with rituals, perhaps made by and for women.http://z.about.com/d/archaeology/1/G/Q/v/Venus_of_Brassempouy.jpgOther figurines of animals such as reindeer, horses, bear, and ibexExtinct cave lion carved inmammoth ivory, 30,000 yrs oldHuman wearing lion mask?28,000 yrs oldThe best known are those in southern France and northern Spain. Found as early as 36,500 ya, but most date between 25,000-10,000 ya. Cave Paintings:(Feder & Park 2001:398)Distribution of cave paintingsin EuropeMost found insouthern Franceand northern SpainFound in caves, but people did not live in these caves. Were not like pictures on the walls.Used different colorsTook advantage of rock reliefHuman figures are rare: only 5% of images(Feder & Park 2001:404)When can identify gender:78% maleportrayed doing activities22% female, inactiveNever painted landscapesImages of fish, insects, and reptiles very rareDo find stenciled handprintsAlso dots, zigzag lines, geometric signs, other linesUsually animals: bison, oxen, horses, deer,mammoth, ibex, rhino, lion, bear(Marshack 1995)Placement was not random Central location in paintings and cave: bison, oxen, horses(Burney 1993)(Jean-Marie ChauvetJean Cottes -- SYGMAin Time 145(6):52, 1995)Running bisonHorsesperipheral location: deer, ibex, mammoth (Marshack 1995)usually deep in cave: rhino, bear, lion Woolly rhinosLionsWoolly rhinosRecognized to be symbols that conveyed messages:Recording a hunt that occurred?Magic before going hunting?Aids to teach young how to hunt?Territory/clan markings?Shamans’ visions?Basically, we don’t know whatthe messages were, or evenwho they were forKinship-based society, probably organized in bands of 50 or fewerNot fully sedentaryEgalitarian: status based on age, sex, marital status Leadership by achievement What can we say about Upper Paleolithic(early modern H. sapiens) society?However, the rich burials and exotic (non-local origin) items found at some sites may indicate non-egalitarian societies where status or rank could be
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