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World of Paleoanthropology<p><strong>The Echo of a Hand Across Millennia: Decoding the Cave Hand Stencil&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Introduction</p><p>Imagine the dim glow of flickering firelight, casting dancing shadows on rough cave walls, thousands of years before history began. In the silence, broken only by the gentle breath of a painter, a hand presses against the cool, damp stone. A cloud of red ochre pigment fills the air, settling around the hand to leave a lasting imprint. This humble act resonates through time, speaking volumes across countless generations. The hand stencil, a ghostly echo from our distant ancestors, represents humanity’s earliest attempt at permanence—a poignant declaration: <em>I was here.</em> These timeless marks, etched in caves worldwide, whisper of identity, presence, and belonging, inviting us to imagine the lives, dreams, and stories of those who came before.</p><p>Creation and Technique</p><p>Creating a hand stencil required careful preparation and delicate execution. Artists mixed powdered ochre or manganese with binding agents such as animal fats or saliva, creating a vivid, lasting pigment. Hollow bone tubes, reeds, or even direct blowing through pursed lips were used to spray this mixture onto cave surfaces, leaving negative hand impressions as the pigment settled around the outstretched fingers and palm (Pike et al., 2012). Positive stencils, conversely, involved coating the hand directly with pigment and pressing firmly onto the rock. The skill and care in producing these artworks suggest the artists were respected community members entrusted with&nbsp; preserving their group’s identity.</p><p>Geographical Distribution</p><p>The universality of hand stencils spans continents and millennia, connecting disparate groups through a shared expression of humanity: – <strong>El Castillo Cave, Spain</strong> (approximately 40,800 years old), where stencils offer a vivid glimpse into the artistic traditions of Europe’s earliest inhabitants (Pike et al., 2012). – <strong>Leang Timpuseng Cave, Indonesia</strong> (around 39,900 years old), highlighting the global reach of this simple yet profound gesture (Aubert et al., 2014). – <strong>Cueva de las Manos, Argentina</strong> (circa 11,000 to 7,500 BCE), bearing witness to the enduring legacy of hunter-gatherer communities (UNESCO, 1999). – <strong>Maltravieso Cave, Spain</strong> (66,700 years old, Neanderthal), pushing back the boundaries of our understanding of human creativity and symbolism (Hoffmann et al., 2018).&nbsp;</p><p>Anthropological and Cognitive Significance</p><p>Hand stencils offer anthropologists a rare glimpse into the minds of early humans, revealing their cognitive sophistication and symbolic capabilities. Jean Clottes (2016) interprets these markings as powerful symbolic dialogues, possibly connecting humans with spiritual worlds or ancestors. Such interpretations illuminate the complex, multi-layered meanings embedded in these ancient symbols, suggesting hand stencils were not mere decorations but deeply intentional expressions of identity, spirituality, and community bonds.</p><p>Makers of the Marks</p><p>The diversity among hand stencil creators adds depth to our understanding of prehistoric societies. Morphometric studies indicate that women and children were significant contributors, evident from the varying sizes and proportions of handprints in sites like Pech Merle and Rouffignac Cave, France (Van Gelder &amp; Sharpe, 2009). Indeed, roughly one-quarter of known stencils were crafted by young hands, suggesting these caves were inclusive spaces of communal gathering, learning, and cultural transmission (Guthrie, 2005). The presence of young artists underscores the social nature of cave art, where cultural heritage and knowledge passed seamlessly across generations.&nbsp;</p> <p>Symbolic Meanings</p><p>Hand stencils often carry deeper symbolic meanings, frequently depicted with intentional missing fingers, possibly signifying complex communication methods, ritualistic practices, or symbolic gestures of sacrifice and belonging (Snow, 2006). At Gargas Cave, the repeated appearance of such stencils implies deliberate artistic choice rather than accidental loss or injury, hinting at a sophisticated form of proto-communication or ritual symbolism (Groenen, 2016). These enigmatic symbols provoke endless curiosity and interpretation, inviting us to explore ancient societies’ profound yet mysterious belief systems.&nbsp;</p><p>Neanderthal Artists</p><p>The revelation of Neanderthal-created hand stencils at Maltravieso Cave drastically reshapes our understanding of these ancient relatives. Dating to approximately 66,700 years ago, these artworks predate modern human presence in Europe, demonstrating Neanderthals’ capability for abstract thought, artistic expression, and symbolic communication (Hoffmann et al., 2018). This discovery challenges long-standing stereotypes, positioning Neanderthals as sophisticated beings with complex social structures, rituals, and creative traditions—indelibly marking their legacy within humanity’s shared heritage.&nbsp;</p><p>Personal Reflection and Modern Resonance</p><p>Handprints transcend historical and cultural divides, resonating deeply within modern consciousness through their universal symbolism of identity and continuity. Today, a child’s handprint evokes a profound emotional connection, bridging the vast temporal gap between ourselves and our ancestors. As parents guide their children’s hands onto clay or paper, they unknowingly echo the same intimate gesture practiced thousands of years earlier in shadowy caves. This continuity reflects humanity’s enduring quest for meaning, connection, and permanence, uniting generations through shared gestures of presence and belonging.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Hand stencils serve as timeless symbols of humanity’s deepest needs: recognition, belonging, storytelling, and community. These simple marks assert presence, convey complex meanings beyond language, and profoundly connect us to our earliest ancestors. They invite modern observers to reflect on our shared humanity and the eternal impulse to leave a mark upon the world, asserting with silent dignity: <em>We are here.</em></p><p>Works Cited</p><p>Aubert, M., Lebe, R., Oktaviana, A. A., Tang, M., Burhan, B., Jusdi, A., … &amp; Brumm, A. (2019). Earliest hunting scene in prehistoric art. Nature, 576(7787), 442–445. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1806-y" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1806-y</a></p><p>Aubert, M., Pike, A. W. G., &amp; Stringer, C. (2014). Pleistocene cave art from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nature, 514(7521), 223–227. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13422" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13422</a></p><p>Bednarik, R. G. (2008). Children as Pleistocene artists. Rock Art Research, 25(2), 173–182. <a href="https://www.academia.edu/1443733/Children_as_Pleistocene_artists" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.academia.edu/1443733/Children_as_Pleistocene_artists</a></p><p>Clottes, J. (2016). What is Paleolithic Art? (D. Coltman, Trans.). University of Chicago Press.</p><p>D’Errico, F., &amp; Vanhaeren, M. (2017). Hand to mouth: The origins of symbolic behaviour seen through the study of dental wear and artefacts. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 372(1725), 20160377. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0377" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0377</a></p><p>Groenen, M. (2016). Handprints and fingerprints in rock art. Arts, 5(1), 1–12. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/arts5010007" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.3390/arts5010007</a></p><p>Guthrie, R. D. (2005). The Nature of Paleolithic Art. University of Chicago Press.</p><p>Hoffmann, D. L., Standish, C. D., García-Diez, M., Pettitt, P. B., Milton, J. A., Zilhão, J., … &amp; Pike, A. W. G. (2018). U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neanderthal origin of Iberian cave art. Science, 359(6378), 912–915. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap7778" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap7778</a></p><p>Pike, A. W. G., Hoffmann, D. L., García-Diez, M., Pettitt, P. B., Alcolea, J., De Balbín, R., … &amp; Zilhão, J. (2012). U-series dating of Paleolithic art in 11 caves in Spain. Science, 336(6087), 1409–1413. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1219957" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1219957</a></p><p>Snow, D. R. (2006). Sexual dimorphism in European Upper Paleolithic cave art. American Antiquity, 71(4), 663–678. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/s0002731600039840" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1017/s0002731600039840</a></p><p>UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1999). Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas. <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/936" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/936</a></p><p>Van Gelder, L., &amp; Sharpe, K. (2009). Women and girls as Upper Paleolithic cave “artists”: Deciphering the sexes of the hands at Rouffignac Cave, France. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 28(4), 323–333. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0092.2009.00332.x" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0092.2009.00332.x</a></p><p>Wreschner, E. E. (1983). Red ochre and human evolution: A case for discussion. Current Anthropology, 24(5), 605–625. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/203067" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1086/203067</a></p><p>Zilhão, J., Angelucci, D. E., Badal-García, E., d’Errico, F., Daniel, F., Dayet, L., … &amp; Higham, T. (2010). Symbolic use of marine shells and mineral pigments by Iberian Neandertals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(3), 1023–1028. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0914088107" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0914088107</a></p><p>Zilhão, J., &amp; d’Errico, F. (1999). The chronology and taphonomy of the earliest Aurignacian and its implications for the understanding of Neandertal extinction. Journal of World Prehistory, 13(1), 1–68. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022348410845" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022348410845</a></p><p><span></span></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/ancienthumans/" target="_blank">#AncientHumans</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/anthropology-2/" target="_blank">#Anthropology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/archaeologicalfinds/" target="_blank">#ArchaeologicalFinds</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/archaeology-2/" target="_blank">#Archaeology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/arthistory/" target="_blank">#ArtHistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/caveart/" target="_blank">#CaveArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/deephistory/" target="_blank">#DeepHistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/earlyhumans/" target="_blank">#EarlyHumans</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/handstencils/" target="_blank">#HandStencils</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/humanorigins/" target="_blank">#HumanOrigins</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/humanstory/" target="_blank">#HumanStory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/neanderthalart/" target="_blank">#NeanderthalArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/paleoanthropology-2/" target="_blank">#Paleoanthropology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/paleolithicart/" target="_blank">#PaleolithicArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/prehistory-2/" target="_blank">#Prehistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/rockart/" target="_blank">#RockArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/sciencecommunication/" target="_blank">#ScienceCommunication</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/symbolicart/" target="_blank">#SymbolicArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/worldofpaleoanthropology/" target="_blank">#WorldOfPaleoanthropology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/archaeology/" target="_blank">#archaeology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/evolution/" target="_blank">#evolution</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/history/" target="_blank">#history</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/science/" target="_blank">#Science</a></p>
World of Paleoanthropology<p><strong>Rock Art on Screen: 12 Free Documentaries That Bring the Painted Past to&nbsp;Life</strong></p><p><em>By Seth Chagi for World of Paleoanthropology</em></p><p>“We carry the torch of ancient storytellers each time we switch on a screen.” — <em>Stoic reflection after too many late‑night documentary binges</em></p><p>Rock art feels simultaneously intimate and cosmic—handprints that whisper <em>I was here</em> across 30,000 years. The internet, bless its algorithmic heart, is brimming with free films that let us wander those caves and escarpments without the knee‑scrapes, bat guano, or UNESCO paperwork. Below are a dozen feature‑length (20 min +) documentaries your audience can stream today. I’ve grouped them by theme and noted what each one can teach us. Pop some popcorn (or Aquafor‑coated trail mix if you’re truly hardcore) and prepare to time‑travel.</p><p>1. Deep Time Immersion</p>TitleRuntimePlatformWhy Watch<strong>“Cave of Forgotten Dreams”</strong>89 min<a href="https://watchdocumentaries.com/cave-of-forgotten-dreams/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">WatchDocumentaries.com</a>Werner Herzog’s 3‑D glide through Chauvet (32 kya) is as close as most of us will get to those charcoal lions. Perfect for discussing preservation ethics, pigment chemistry, and the phenomenology of darkness.<strong>“Inside France’s Chauvet Cave”</strong> (DW Documentary)52 minYouTubeA more traditional science‑journalist tour that balances visuals with up‑to‑date uranium‑thorium dating and virtual‑reality replication work. Great classroom fodder on 3‑D scanning.<p>2. Rock Art &amp; Global Narratives</p>TitleRuntimePlatformWhy Watch<strong>“Les secrets des fresques d’Amazonie”</strong>88 min<a href="https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/112239-000-A/les-secrets-des-fresques-d-amazonie/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ARTE.tv</a>Takes viewers into Colombia’s Serranía de la Lindosa cliff murals—tens of thousands of figures dated ≥12 kya—while foregrounding Indigenous perspectives and environmental stakes.<strong>“Oldest Cave Art Found in Sulawesi”</strong>24 min<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-wAYtBxn7E" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube (Griffith Univ.)</a>Concise but rich breakdown of the 45 kya pig panel &amp; new 51 kya hunting scene; use it to spark debates on symbolic cognition outside Europe.<strong>“KIMBERLEY ROCK ART: A World Treasure”</strong>45 min<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8sYLZk5QeM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube</a>Explores Australia’s Gwion Gwion &amp; Wandjina iconography, weaving in modern Aboriginal custodianship and cutting‑edge optically stimulated luminescence dating.<strong>“The Rock Art of Arnhem Land” (Part I)</strong>26 minYouTubeVeteran archaeologist Paul Taçon walks viewers through x‑ray kangaroos and Lightning Man motifs; ideal primer on superimposition sequences.<p>3. Mediterranean &amp; Atlantic Europe</p>TitleRuntimePlatformWhy Watch<strong>“Rock‑Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus”</strong> (UNESCO/NHK)28 min<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/287/video" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UNESCO.org</a>Sahara pastoralism in motion—perfect for stressing how climate shifts shaped iconographic changes.<strong>“Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin”</strong>28 min<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/874/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube (UNESCO)</a>Surveys 758 Iberian sites; includes rare footage of Levantine‑style hunters in eastern Spain. Good segue into discussions of pigment sourcing.<strong>“Prehistoric Rock Art of the Côa Valley &amp; Siega Verde”</strong>30 min<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/866/video" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UNESCO.org</a>Night‑shot filming of open‑air engravings (≈25 kya onward) highlights why Foz Côa is a conservation victory.<strong>“Exploring the Ancient Art of Altamira”</strong>24 min<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgxSsQnjy48" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube</a>A guided VR‑style tour of Spain’s “Sistine Chapel of the Palaeolithic,” complete with replica cave construction details—great for public‑engagement case studies.<p>4. Decoding Symbolic Systems</p>TitleRuntimePlatformWhy Watch<strong>“How Art Made the World – Ep 2: The Day Pictures Were Born”</strong>59 min<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQWKpKbvc9M" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube (BBC series)</a>Frames cave art within a cognitive‑evolution story: why image‑making matters for social cohesion.**“Paleo Cave Art Mysteries” (Episode 1 of 3)22 min<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7i8FEa0XGY" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube**</a>Paleoanthropologist Neil Bockoven dives into dot‑and‑line signs (à la von Petzinger) and therianthropes; a bite‑sized springboard for symbol taxonomy exercises.<p>How to Use This Playlist – (of course, you could just be like me and want to watch them, but here are some fun activities for those of you who may be teachers, professors, and the like for your students to better engage with the content):</p><ol><li><strong>Chronological Viewing Party:</strong> Start with <em>Acacus</em> for Holocene climate context, swing through European Upper Palaeolithic masterpieces, then finish in the Amazon to spotlight New World debates.</li><li><strong>Data‑Extraction Exercise:</strong> Have students log motifs, substrates, and dating techniques in a shared Zotero group to spot regional patterns.</li><li><strong>Compare Custodianship Models:</strong> Contrast Indigenous‑led management in Australia with state oversight in France and Spain—fertile ground for ethical discussions.</li><li><strong>DIY Experimental Archaeology:</strong> After watching the Altamira VR segment, try recreating blowing techniques with ochre and charcoal on butcher paper (outdoors, trust me).</li></ol><p><em>Remember:</em> every dash of ochre, every engraved aurochs, is a dialogue across millennia. Hit play, listen closely, and pass the story on.</p><p><em>Feel free to embed this post—just credit World of Paleoanthropology and link readers back to the documentary sources. Happy cave‑surfing!</em></p><p><span></span></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/altamira/" target="_blank">#Altamira</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/ancientart/" target="_blank">#AncientArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/anthropology-2/" target="_blank">#Anthropology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/archaeology-2/" target="_blank">#Archaeology</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/arthistory/" target="_blank">#ArtHistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/caveart/" target="_blank">#CaveArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/cavepainting/" target="_blank">#CavePainting</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/chauvetcave/" target="_blank">#ChauvetCave</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/gwiongwion/" target="_blank">#GwionGwion</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/handsonhistory/" target="_blank">#HandsOnHistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/humanevolution/" target="_blank">#HumanEvolution</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/lascaux/" target="_blank">#Lascaux</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/paleoart/" target="_blank">#PaleoArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/paleolithic/" target="_blank">#Paleolithic</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/parietalart/" target="_blank">#ParietalArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/petroglyphs/" target="_blank">#Petroglyphs</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/prehistoricart/" target="_blank">#PrehistoricArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/prehistory-2/" target="_blank">#Prehistory</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/rockart/" target="_blank">#RockArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/rockartresearch/" target="_blank">#RockArtResearch</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/stoneage/" target="_blank">#StoneAge</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/sulawesirockart/" target="_blank">#SulawesiRockArt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/unescoworldheritage/" target="_blank">#UNESCOWorldHeritage</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://worldofpaleoanthropology.org/tag/upperpaleolithic/" target="_blank">#UpperPaleolithic</a></p>
Seth Chagi<p>From the wild bison of Altamira to the ghostly hands of Sulawesi, early humans left behind a record of their spirit.<br>What piece of ancient art speaks to you most? Drop it in the comments!<br><a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/RockArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RockArt</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/DeepHistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DeepHistory</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/PaleoPost" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PaleoPost</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/WOPA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WOPA</span></a></p>
Seth Chagi<p>Exciting news! With an updated format, new editing and producing, fun ideas, guests, and more, the <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/PaleoPostPodcast" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PaleoPostPodcast</span></a> returns in a few weeks! Stay tuned, and catch up today on iTunes, YouTube, and Spotify! </p><p>Check out our YT Playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTLR_GEbTEYtELVBvPC8owx_6KKkMsfnp" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTL</span><span class="invisible">R_GEbTEYtELVBvPC8owx_6KKkMsfnp</span></a></p><p><a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/PaleoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PaleoArt</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/Anthropology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Anthropology</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a></p>
Archaeology News :verified:<p>The role of children in Paleolithic cave art: creators, apprentices, or spiritual mediators?</p><p>A recent study from Tel Aviv University has put forth a new hypothesis regarding the presence of children in prehistoric cave art sites. Earlier, it was believed by scholars that children accompanied adults into deep caves to learn cultural traditions...</p><p>More information: <a href="https://archaeologymag.com/2025/04/role-of-children-in-paleolithic-cave-art/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">archaeologymag.com/2025/04/rol</span><span class="invisible">e-of-children-in-paleolithic-cave-art/</span></a></p><p>Follow <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mstdn.social/@archaeology" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>archaeology</span></a></span> </p><p><a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/archaeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>archaeology</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/archeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>archeology</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/archaeologynews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>archaeologynews</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/paleolithic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>paleolithic</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/paleolithicart" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>paleolithicart</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/caveart" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caveart</span></a></p>
N-gated Hacker News<p>🎭 Ah, the riveting saga of <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Neanderthals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Neanderthals</span></a> trading artisanal cave art with Homo sapiens, deftly captured in a 400 Bad Request error. 💥 Clearly, the servers decided this groundbreaking research was too avant-garde for the internet to handle. 😂<br><a href="https://phys.org/news/2025-03-burials-compelling-evidence-neanderthal-homo.html" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">phys.org/news/2025-03-burials-</span><span class="invisible">compelling-evidence-neanderthal-homo.html</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/HomoSapiens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HomoSapiens</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/TechHumor" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TechHumor</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/ResearchFails" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ResearchFails</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/HackerNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HackerNews</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/ngated" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ngated</span></a></p>
jan“Alone in that vastness, lit by the feeble beam of our lamps, we were seized by a strange feeling. Everything was so beautiful, so fresh, almost too much so. Time was abolished, as if the tens of thousands of years that separated us from the producers of these paintings no longer existed. … Suddenly we felt like intruders. Deeply impressed, we were weighed down by the feeling that we were not alone; the artists’ souls and spirits surrounded us. We thought we could feel their presence; we were disturbing them.”<br>—J-M. Chauvet, E.B. Deschamps &amp; C. Hillaire, Chauvet Cave: The Discovery of the World’s Oldest Paintings, 41–42<br><a class="hashtag" href="https://pleroma.microblog.se/tag/caveart" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#caveart</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://pleroma.microblog.se/tag/art" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#art</a>
Chris GuerreroCerro azul (Guaviare), de lo más increible que haya visto. Estas pinturas rupestres, artes, de hace más de 10 mil años, elaborados <br> por nuestros antepasados, me llenan de admiración, respeto, intriga y misterio. Me invitan a reflexionar y pensar en la vida y el <br> pensamiento de quienes las crearon, en su forma de ver el mundo y en el legado que dejaron plasmado en la roca, un testimonio eterno de su <br> existencia. Feliz de poder compartirlo con ustedes.<br> //<br> Cerro Azul (Guaviare), one of the most incredible places I have ever seen. These rock paintings, artworks created more than 10,000 years ago <br> by our ancestors, fill me with admiration, respect, intrigue, and mystery. They invite me to reflect and think about the lives and <br> thoughts of those who created them, their way of seeing the world, and the legacy they left etched in the rock, an eternal testament <br> to their existence. Happy to be able to share it with you.<br> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/CerroAzul?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CerroAzul</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/CaveArt?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CaveArt</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/AncientHistory?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AncientHistory</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/RockArt?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#RockArt</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Archaeology?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Archaeology</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/PrehistoricArt?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PrehistoricArt</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/CulturalHeritage?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CulturalHeritage</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/TimelessLegacy?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TimelessLegacy</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/HistoryMystery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HistoryMystery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/HumanHeritage?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HumanHeritage</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/History?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#History</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Art?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Art</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Heritage?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Heritage</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Mystery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Mystery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Ancestors?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Ancestors</a>
Seth Chagi<p>Join the live chat, talk to others, ask questions, and learn while having fun! 🎉</p><p>The Season Finale of the Paleo Post Podcast is here! 🎙️</p><p>Learn about ancient cave art in Israel, Sicilian art, Neanderthals, and more! 🏺🎨</p><p>Catch it now: <a href="https://youtu.be/0vEMXv4opL4" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/0vEMXv4opL4</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/Neanderthals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Neanderthals</span></a> <a href="https://sciencemastodon.com/tags/AncientHistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AncientHistory</span></a></p>
Global Museum<p>Reindeer are stirring…<br>A magical scene from ice age France. </p><p>Illuminated by oil fat lamps in the darkness of Lascaux, the panel of swimming reindeer was drawn in black manganese crayon 17,000 winters past. </p><p>Happy Christmas everyone!🎄</p><p>Prof Jamie Woodward @Jamie_Woodward_ <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Christmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Christmas</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Lascaux" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Lascaux</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/caveart" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caveart</span></a></p>
grateful wolf<p>Aurignacian rock art dating in Altxerri B Cave [pdf 8pp] <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/RockArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RockArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/ParietalArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ParietalArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/iberia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>iberia</span></a> <a href="https://www.academia.edu/16986135/Not_only_Chauvet_Dating_Aurignacian_rock_art_in_Altxerri_B_Cave_northern_Spain_" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">academia.edu/16986135/Not_only</span><span class="invisible">_Chauvet_Dating_Aurignacian_rock_art_in_Altxerri_B_Cave_northern_Spain_</span></a></p>
grateful wolf<p>La Pasiega - use of historical documents in cave art spatial studies [pdf 11pp] <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/RockArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RockArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/ParietalArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ParietalArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/iberia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>iberia</span></a> <a href="https://www.academia.edu/25781541/Looking_through_past_records_The_use_of_historical_documents_in_cave_art_spatial_studies_and_its_application_to_La_Pasiega_Puente_Viesgo_Cantabria_Spain_" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">academia.edu/25781541/Looking_</span><span class="invisible">through_past_records_The_use_of_historical_documents_in_cave_art_spatial_studies_and_its_application_to_La_Pasiega_Puente_Viesgo_Cantabria_Spain_</span></a></p>
Jens Notroff<p>Enigmatic signs, mysterious message, or just a bunch of kids scrawling all over the walls? 🤔</p><p>Got to keep the offspring busy, even 14,000 years ago. 🤷🏻‍♂️</p><p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@spoke32" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>spoke32</span></a></span> reporting on some really cool insights into lives &amp; <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> of hunter-gatherers in <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Paleolithic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Paleolithic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Spain" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Spain</span></a>:</p><p><a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/enigmatic-cave-art-was-made-ice-age-children" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">science.org/content/article/en</span><span class="invisible">igmatic-cave-art-was-made-ice-age-children</span></a></p>
grateful wolf<p>Neanderthal cave art? [pdf 10pp] <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/RockArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RockArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/ParietalArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ParietalArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/Neanderthal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Neanderthal</span></a> <a href="https://apidspace.linhd.uned.es/server/api/core/bitstreams/86da6ce8-2038-49fb-ac46-53a6bdad26ec/content" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">apidspace.linhd.uned.es/server</span><span class="invisible">/api/core/bitstreams/86da6ce8-2038-49fb-ac46-53a6bdad26ec/content</span></a></p>
grateful wolf<p>Chauvet Cave - case study of authenticity in replica rock art [pdf 22pp presentation] <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/RockArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RockArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://archaeo.social/tags/ParietalArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ParietalArt</span></a> <a href="https://hal.science/hal-04829999" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">hal.science/hal-04829999</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p>
Mary Holstege<p>Apropos <a href="https://mastodon.social/@futurebird@sauropods.win/113537840203964375" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">mastodon.social/@futurebird@sa</span><span class="invisible">uropods.win/113537840203964375</span></a></p><p>Just last month we were on a trip to the south of France and got to see the inside of several caves, including Lascaux (well, Lascaux IV, a high-quality reproduction of the actual cave), Peche Merle, and Rouffignac. We saw many fine cattle, horses, deer, and ibex.</p><p>Here are some:</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/caveart" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caveart</span></a></p>
Hari Tulsidas<p>Researchers have discovered narrative cave art in Indonesia that dates back 51,200 years, making it some of the oldest known representational art. The depictions include scenes of human-animal interactions, offering insights into early human culture and storytelling practices. This find pushes back the timeline for symbolic expression and highlights the sophistication of early humans.</p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Archaeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Archaeology</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/HumanHistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HumanHistory</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Indonesia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Indonesia</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/AncientArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AncientArt</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38961284/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/389612</span><span class="invisible">84/</span></a></p>
AutisticMumTo3<p>51,200-Year-Old Cave Art, Likely the World’s Oldest, May Not Have Been Made by Modern Humans - The Debrief<br> <a href="https://thedebrief.org/51000-year-old-cave-art-likely-the-worlds-oldest-may-not-have-been-made-by-humans/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">thedebrief.org/51000-year-old-</span><span class="invisible">cave-art-likely-the-worlds-oldest-may-not-have-been-made-by-humans/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Sulawesi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Sulawesi</span></a> <br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Hominin" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Hominin</span></a> <br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Archeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Archeology</span></a> <br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/SolutionUraniumSeries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SolutionUraniumSeries</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/USeries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USeries</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/MarosPangkep" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MarosPangkep</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/LeangBuluSipong4" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LeangBuluSipong4</span></a></p>
Hari Tulsidas<p>Archaeologists have discovered the world’s oldest known cave paintings in Indonesia, dating back 51,000 years. These ancient artworks depict detailed images of animals and hand stencils, providing remarkable insights into early human creativity and expression. This discovery pushes back the timeline of symbolic art and highlights the sophisticated cultural practices of our ancestors. </p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Archaeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Archaeology</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/CaveArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CaveArt</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/AncientHistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AncientHistory</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Indonesia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Indonesia</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ScientificDiscovery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ScientificDiscovery</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://allthatsinteresting.com/oldest-cave-paintings?utm_source=flipboard&amp;utm_content=topic%2Farchaeology" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">allthatsinteresting.com/oldest</span><span class="invisible">-cave-paintings?utm_source=flipboard&amp;utm_content=topic%2Farchaeology</span></a></p>
Barbara J. King<p>"The oldest example of figurative cave art has been discovered in the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi by Australian and Indonesian scientists. The painting of a wild pig and three human-like figures is at least 51,200 years old, more than 5,000 years older than the previous oldest cave art." <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/art" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>art</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/caveart" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caveart</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/anthropology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>anthropology</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/paleoanthropology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>paleoanthropology</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/archaeology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>archaeology</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Indonesia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Indonesia</span></a> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0vewjq4dxwo" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.com/news/articles/c0vewjq4</span><span class="invisible">dxwo</span></a></p>