Possibly much earlier than we thought. Read the article for more detail. Several scholars now feel that Neanderthals may have been responsible for cave paintings in western Europe.
Professor M. Och
ARTH 114 and ARTH 115: Introduction to Western Art, University of Mary Washington
This is interesting, but not surprising. Humans, no matter what stage of evolution, have always been fascinated with the “finer things” in life. This could be an interesting study linking artistic talents with genetics. Or it just may add a new twist to inbreeding controversy!
I feel like this is a case of developing science and technology in modern times. In my opinion this was inevitable as science and technology keeps improving and dating techniques get better. I’m sure in the next couple of decades more cave paintings will be found and some may be older than these even, depending on how far dating techniques have come in that time. Still very interesting nonetheless.
With these findings and the implication that cave paintings and primitive art has been tied to evolution and/or possible competition of the human race it makes the recent changes in how we view art even more dramatic. Imagine how early Homo Sapiens, or even possibly the Neanderthals would view Post-Impressionism or more recent forms.
I found this article insightful, because I am always interested in seeing new ways that art can be created with abstract forms. Some think the stone artwork was from neanderthals, but archaelogoists claim that neanderthals weren’t artistic and scientifically savvy enough for the creations.This artwork was created by science and lots of experimentation to create images on the rock. The artwork was very time consuming and tedious to same the least. Im amused with the different backrounds that artists decided to create their work on. I also liked how there was mystery in how the stone based artwork was created and that the artist was not confirmed.
While the scientific research done here to determine whom created the cave paintings admirable, I would have liked to see less “who did it” for more “why did they do it”. I find that the why instead of the who gives more insight into not only the mental/physical abilities of a species but to the spiritual as well. In a previous art history class I learned, and believe, that the cave paintings were a ritualistic act that was considered a form of magic. That deep within the caves of the earth, symbolism for the womb or creation, prehistoric peoples created these images of life in an attempt to manifest them into their own plane of existence. The images themselves were very organic- and by that I mean that they were created in a very personal manner. It is apparent that in some cave paintings the paint was blown onto the wall in the shape of an animal, which to me represents blowing life into the image. As I said before, while the “who done it” factor is important, the symbolism behind the images breathe insight into the cultural and spirituality of a group of people. If the neanderthals did in fact create a number of cave drawings, I think this is an indication that we as a species need to re-evaluate how we have been viewing this stereotypically depicted “lesser” species. After all, we existed at the same time as neanderthals, and let’s face it, were not that much more evolved. And to that question, I believe, leads to a larger question of “who are we as a species?”.
This makes me wonder when we developed the ability to create art. Maybe we’re not the only ones who were able to make and appreciate some form of art. I always thought the Neanderthals would be able to create art, but perhaps it was more sophisticated than I thought previously. I wonder what they would like of David or the Last Supper…