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Art of the Middle PaleolithicFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AcheuleanbifacefromSaint-Acheul, France

The earliest undisputed evidence ofprehistoric artdates to theUpper Paleolithic, some 50,000 to 40,000 years

ago (seeUpper Paleolithic art).[1]

Visual art began with emergence of sculptures, beads and cave paintings of

Europe, Africa, Americas and Australia in the cultures ofHomo sapiens at around 40,000 years ago.

[2]

Together withreligionand othercultural universalsof contemporary human societies, the emergence

offigurative artis a necessary attribute of fullbehavioral modernity. There is, however, evidence of an emerging

"preference for the aesthetic" among theHomo sapiensof theMiddle Paleolithic(Middle Stone Age) in the

period leading up to the beginning Upper Paleolithic, from 200,000 to 50,000 years ago, in particular in the high

symmetry exhibited bystone tools, often manufactured with much greater care than would strictly be needed to

arrive at an operative hand-axe.

Contents

[hide]

1 PreHomo sapiens

2 Blombos cave

3 References

4 See also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Acheulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Acheulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Acheulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_universalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_universalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_universalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurative_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurative_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurative_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_modernityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_modernityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_modernityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Stone_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Stone_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Stone_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Pre.E2.80.93Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Pre.E2.80.93Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Pre.E2.80.93Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Pre.E2.80.93Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biface_de_St_Acheul_MHNT.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biface_de_St_Acheul_MHNT.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biface_de_St_Acheul_MHNT.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biface_de_St_Acheul_MHNT.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#Pre.E2.80.93Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Stone_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_modernityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurative_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_universalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Acheulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biface

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PreHomo sapiens[edit]

Acheulean hand-axes fromKent. The types shown are (clockwise from top) cordate, ficron and ovate.

Homo erectushad long before produced seemingly aimless patterns on artifacts such as is those found

atBilzingslebeninThuringia, and these might be understood as a precursor to art, as well as to reveal some

intent of the artificer to decorate and fashion beyond practical necessity. The symmetry and attention given to

the shape of a tool has led authors to seeAcheuleanhand axesand especiallylaurel pointsas artistic

expressions.

TheMask of La Roche-Cotardhas also been taken as evidence of Neanderthal figurative art, although in a

period post-dating theircontact with Homo sapiens. Similarly, the "Divje Babe flute" has controversially been

claimed as a Neanderthal musical instrument dating to about 43,000 years ago.

There are other claims of Middle Paleolithic sculpture, dubbed the "Venus of Tan-Tan" (before 300 kya)[3]

and

the "Venus of Berekhat Ram" (250 kya). Both objects may be natural rock formations with an incidental

likeness to the human form, but some scholars have suggested that they exhibit traces of pigments or carving

intended to further accentuate the human-like form.

Blombos cave[edit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_erectushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_erectushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilzingsleben_(Paleolithic_site)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilzingsleben_(Paleolithic_site)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilzingsleben_(Paleolithic_site)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acheuleanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acheuleanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_axehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_axehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_axehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurel_point&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurel_point&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurel_point&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask_of_La_Roche-Cotardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask_of_La_Roche-Cotardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask_of_La_Roche-Cotardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Cro-Magnon_interactionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Cro-Magnon_interactionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Cro-Magnon_interactionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Cro-Magnon_interactionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divje_Babe_flutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divje_Babe_flutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divje_Babe_flutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Tan-Tanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Tan-Tanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Tan-Tanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Chase145-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Chase145-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Chase145-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Berekhat_Ramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Berekhat_Ramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Berekhat_Ramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acheuleanhandaxes.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acheuleanhandaxes.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acheuleanhandaxes.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acheuleanhandaxes.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Berekhat_Ramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Chase145-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Tan-Tanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divje_Babe_flutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_Cro-Magnon_interactionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask_of_La_Roche-Cotardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurel_point&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_axehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acheuleanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilzingsleben_(Paleolithic_site)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_erectushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic&action=edit&section=1

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Bifacial points, engraved ochre and bone tools from the c. 75 -80 000 year old M1 & M2 phases at Blombos cave.

In 2002 inBlombos cave, situated inSouth Africa,ochrestones were discovered engraved with grid or cross-

hatch patterns, dated to some 70,000 years ago. This suggested to some researchers thatearly Homo

sapienswere capable of abstraction and production of abstract art or symbolic art. Also discovered at the

Blombos cave were shell beads, also dating to c. 70,000 years ago.[4][5][6]

In 2011, the cave surrendered

containers which may have held paints, along with other art supplies, dating to c. 100,000 years ago.[4]

Several archaeologists includingRichard KleinofStanfordare hesitant to accept the Blombos caves as the first

example of actual art.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blombos_cavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Klein_(paleoanthropologist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Klein_(paleoanthropologist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Klein_(paleoanthropologist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BBC-artefacts.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BBC-artefacts.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BBC-artefacts.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BBC-artefacts.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Klein_(paleoanthropologist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_Middle_Paleolithic#cite_note-Poetics-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Homo_sapienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blombos_cave