1. The Beginning
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1.8 Cultural Development
Unique to Homo Sapiens are the developments of various rituals that eventually became religions. These were vital to reinforce group identity, uniting a tribe against common threats. Additional accomplishments that seem to distinguish Homo Sapiens from other animals include decorative art and music. The earliest form of decorative art appears to be geometric designs engraved on prepared pieces of ochre (iron oxide), rather similar to crayons, dated to 75,000 years ago and found in South Africa. These were probably used as pigments for body painting. The earliest rock engraving appears to be in Australia, dated as early as 45,000 years ago, while 60,000 year old engraved ostrich eggshells have been found in Africa and 25,000 year old in India.
Engraved Ostrich Egg, Africa
- source Pierre-Jean Texier
Rock paintings have been found in Australia dated to 40,000 years ago and South West Africa dated to 28,000 years ago.
Australian Rock Painting, Indeterminate Age
Carved bone and wood figures of mammoths and reindeer dated to 30-34,000 years ago have been found in Germany. With regard to music, as mentioned earlier, a bone dated to 34,000 years ago, also from Germany, was clearly carved for use as a flute.
It is suggested that the difference between Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals that made the difference between survival and extinction was that Neanderthals had a culture with less social cohesion and were loners, whereas Homo Sapiens had developed rituals that brought people together, able and willing to work towards the common good, and art and music played an important part in this culture. It is important to recognise this significance of art and ritual to our survival
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Author: Dr. Stan Jones © Copyright 2010 -