Why did people paint horses and spears on European cave walls? The explosion of cave art in the Upper Palaeolithic, about 45,000 years, ago has been attributed to a “neurological revolution�, but it’s not as simple as that, says David Lewis-Williams in The Mind in the Cave (Thames and Hudson, £12.95). Modern human behaviours showed up at different times among different populations in Africa and Europe. Europe’s cave art is preceded by Africa’s geometric engraving, dated to 77,000 years ago, and by 75,000-year-old shell beads. So what changed in Europe to produce so much art so swiftly? Society is the catalyst, he suggests – in particular, a role for art that he describes in terms of “social conflict, stress and discrimination�. A rich hoard of ideas.
More from New Å®ÉúСÊÓÆµ
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Humans
Ancient shipwreck discovered off Turkey claimed to be world’s oldest
News
Technology
Self-replicating AIs are a great digital horror story – here’s the reality
Comment
Environment
We can rescue the AMOC after its collapse – but it won’t be easy
News
Twisteddoodles on life before the study began…
Regulars
Popular articles
Trending New Å®ÉúСÊÓÆµ articles