this incredible art that mostly dates between 10 and 40,000 years ago what we
between 10 and 40,000 years ago what we
between 10 and 40,000 years ago what we often think of of course is the animals
often think of of course is the animals
often think of of course is the animals but there’s this other enormous group
but there’s this other enormous group
but there’s this other enormous group called the geometric signs that number
called the geometric signs that number
called the geometric signs that number the animals in the humans at most sites
the animals in the humans at most sites
the animals in the humans at most sites by a ratio of 2 to 1 or more so June
by a ratio of 2 to 1 or more so June
by a ratio of 2 to 1 or more so June 2014 myself and my husband and project
2014 myself and my husband and project
2014 myself and my husband and project photographer Dylan we were at northern
photographer Dylan we were at northern
photographer Dylan we were at northern Spain we were at a site called Kuya Vera
Spain we were at a site called Kuya Vera
Spain we were at a site called Kuya Vera cave and we were so excited to finally
cave and we were so excited to finally
cave and we were so excited to finally be there Kuya Vera the entrance is 30
be there Kuya Vera the entrance is 30
be there Kuya Vera the entrance is 30 meters up it’s a hundred feet it’s a
meters up it’s a hundred feet it’s a
meters up it’s a hundred feet it’s a cathedral entrance in a wooded hillside
cathedral entrance in a wooded hillside
cathedral entrance in a wooded hillside in the foothills of the Pyrenees there’s
in the foothills of the Pyrenees there’s
in the foothills of the Pyrenees there’s like a whole wreath of dangling green
like a whole wreath of dangling green
like a whole wreath of dangling green vines coming down it’s inviting it wants
vines coming down it’s inviting it wants
vines coming down it’s inviting it wants you to come in and so I can understand
you to come in and so I can understand
you to come in and so I can understand why people might have decided to go in
why people might have decided to go in
why people might have decided to go in there 14,000 years ago what’s a little
there 14,000 years ago what’s a little
there 14,000 years ago what’s a little more difficult to understand is why they
more difficult to understand is why they
more difficult to understand is why they decided to go so far in because the very
decided to go so far in because the very
decided to go so far in because the very first art is 780 meters half a mile into
first art is 780 meters half a mile into
first art is 780 meters half a mile into the cave you can probably just see some
the cave you can probably just see some
the cave you can probably just see some faint pigment marquees on the wall that
faint pigment marquees on the wall that
faint pigment marquees on the wall that is not modern graphene these are not
is not modern graphene these are not
is not modern graphene these are not animals but they’re not writing either
animals but they’re not writing either
animals but they’re not writing either these are the geometric signs they came
these are the geometric signs they came
these are the geometric signs they came half a mile to the cave to make these if
half a mile to the cave to make these if
half a mile to the cave to make these if we enhance it you can see a little bit
we enhance it you can see a little bit
we enhance it you can see a little bit more this is a very cool color
more this is a very cool color
more this is a very cool color enhancement program created by American
enhancement program created by American
enhancement program created by American rock art researcher john harmon and
rock art researcher john harmon and
rock art researcher john harmon and suddenly you can see more but still no
suddenly you can see more but still no
suddenly you can see more but still no animals i think as far as the eye can
animals i think as far as the eye can
animals i think as far as the eye can see this is very unusual animals are
see this is very unusual animals are
see this is very unusual animals are normally found everywhere but don’t
normally found everywhere but don’t
normally found everywhere but don’t worry we just got to keep going a little
worry we just got to keep going a little
worry we just got to keep going a little farther so we keep going three-quarters
farther so we keep going three-quarters
farther so we keep going three-quarters of a mile in and there’s another little
of a mile in and there’s another little
of a mile in and there’s another little passageway here with two horses so the
passageway here with two horses so the
passageway here with two horses so the animals are represented there just in a
animals are represented there just in a
animals are represented there just in a completely different section of cave and
completely different section of cave and
completely different section of cave and as you can see they’re very simple but
as you can see they’re very simple but
as you can see they’re very simple but we’ve also have all this detail that
we’ve also have all this detail that
we’ve also have all this detail that kind of lets you know that there’s
kind of lets you know that there’s
kind of lets you know that there’s something going on there’s a hint here
something going on there’s a hint here
something going on there’s a hint here that there’s some artistic ability
that there’s some artistic ability
that there’s some artistic ability that’s underlying what they’re doing
that’s underlying what they’re doing
that’s underlying what they’re doing here so we got two horses that’s it you
here so we got two horses that’s it you
here so we got two horses that’s it you keep going a little farther and now
keep going a little farther and now
keep going a little farther and now there’s a little crevice off to the
there’s a little crevice off to the
there’s a little crevice off to the right this time and somebody went up
right this time and somebody went up
right this time and somebody went up there to make these little dots let me
there to make these little dots let me
there to make these little dots let me enhance it for you but these little dots
enhance it for you but these little dots
enhance it for you but these little dots somebody took their finger and dipped it
somebody took their finger and dipped it
somebody took their finger and dipped it in paint
in paint
in paint and made those marks and as so often
and made those marks and as so often
and made those marks and as so often happens when I find myself in these
happens when I find myself in these
happens when I find myself in these places I’m like what were you doing here
places I’m like what were you doing here
places I’m like what were you doing here why did you come three quarters of a
why did you come three quarters of a
why did you come three quarters of a mile or 1.2 kilometers in a cave to make
mile or 1.2 kilometers in a cave to make
mile or 1.2 kilometers in a cave to make thoughts so let me introduce you to some
thoughts so let me introduce you to some
thoughts so let me introduce you to some of this Paleolithic or Stone Age art
of this Paleolithic or Stone Age art
of this Paleolithic or Stone Age art that mostly dates between 10 and 40,000
that mostly dates between 10 and 40,000
that mostly dates between 10 and 40,000 years ago what we often think of of
years ago what we often think of of
years ago what we often think of of course is the animals the animals are by
course is the animals the animals are by
course is the animals the animals are by far the majority of what we call
far the majority of what we call
far the majority of what we call figurative or representational art a lot
figurative or representational art a lot
figurative or representational art a lot of his hunting animals who’ve already
of his hunting animals who’ve already
of his hunting animals who’ve already seen a horse here’s a deer we have a
seen a horse here’s a deer we have a
seen a horse here’s a deer we have a fabulous purple bison it’s the only one
fabulous purple bison it’s the only one
fabulous purple bison it’s the only one of its kind because most of the art when
of its kind because most of the art when
of its kind because most of the art when it’s painted is either red or black
it’s painted is either red or black
it’s painted is either red or black and so this fabulous purple bison I just
and so this fabulous purple bison I just
and so this fabulous purple bison I just love him he’s like this unique little
love him he’s like this unique little
love him he’s like this unique little guy hanging out in northern Spain so
guy hanging out in northern Spain so
guy hanging out in northern Spain so we’ve got him and then also we do have a
we’ve got him and then also we do have a
we’ve got him and then also we do have a few other figurative images of humans
few other figurative images of humans
few other figurative images of humans and this is engraving this is the other
and this is engraving this is the other
and this is engraving this is the other way that they made the art but there’s
way that they made the art but there’s
way that they made the art but there’s this other enormous group called the
this other enormous group called the
this other enormous group called the geometric signs that number the animals
geometric signs that number the animals
geometric signs that number the animals in the humans at most sites by a ratio
in the humans at most sites by a ratio
in the humans at most sites by a ratio of 2 to 1 or more they can be simple
of 2 to 1 or more they can be simple
of 2 to 1 or more they can be simple things like the circle they can be more
things like the circle they can be more
things like the circle they can be more complex things like this incredibly
complex things like this incredibly
complex things like this incredibly complicated sign that was located in
complicated sign that was located in
complicated sign that was located in this panel in Spain which is a one-off
this panel in Spain which is a one-off
this panel in Spain which is a one-off it’s the only one of its kind in the
it’s the only one of its kind in the
it’s the only one of its kind in the world they can be dots they can be lines
world they can be dots they can be lines
world they can be dots they can be lines they can be triangles you know so
they can be triangles you know so
they can be triangles you know so they’re the full range everything that’s
they’re the full range everything that’s
they’re the full range everything that’s abstract and that’s kind of how they’ve
abstract and that’s kind of how they’ve
abstract and that’s kind of how they’ve been defined over the years abstract
been defined over the years abstract
been defined over the years abstract characters that don’t represent anything
characters that don’t represent anything
characters that don’t represent anything from the mundane world so let me tell
from the mundane world so let me tell
from the mundane world so let me tell you some of my fun results there are
you some of my fun results there are
you some of my fun results there are only 32 signs across an entire continent
only 32 signs across an entire continent
only 32 signs across an entire continent and a 30,000 year time period my friends
and a 30,000 year time period my friends
and a 30,000 year time period my friends these are not random doodles or
these are not random doodles or
these are not random doodles or decorations so what was I noticed was
decorations so what was I noticed was
decorations so what was I noticed was that this there’s actually each one of
that this there’s actually each one of
that this there’s actually each one of them has its own distinct patterning –
them has its own distinct patterning –
them has its own distinct patterning – these are not all doing the same things
these are not all doing the same things
these are not all doing the same things they’re doing different things in
they’re doing different things in
they’re doing different things in different places so there were patterns
different places so there were patterns
different places so there were patterns across space and time and that’s what’s
across space and time and that’s what’s
across space and time and that’s what’s so intriguing and exciting so let me
so intriguing and exciting so let me
so intriguing and exciting so let me show you a couple of those patterns this
show you a couple of those patterns this
show you a couple of those patterns this is a child’s hand this is 27 thousand
is a child’s hand this is 27 thousand
is a child’s hand this is 27 thousand year old child’s hand now hands are a
year old child’s hand now hands are a
year old child’s hand now hands are a fascinating one because they are at
fascinating one because they are at
fascinating one because they are at their most popular at the very earliest
their most popular at the very earliest
their most popular at the very earliest time period so between 33 between 25 and
time period so between 33 between 25 and
time period so between 33 between 25 and 40,000 is when we find hands
40,000 is when we find hands
40,000 is when we find hands after that they start to fade out of
after that they start to fade out of
after that they start to fade out of popularity until they vanish towards the
popularity until they vanish towards the
popularity until they vanish towards the end of the Ice Age they just go away
end of the Ice Age they just go away
end of the Ice Age they just go away people stop making them so that’s one
people stop making them so that’s one
people stop making them so that’s one pattern another pattern that’s very
pattern another pattern that’s very
pattern another pattern that’s very interesting is this is called detective
interesting is this is called detective
interesting is this is called detective form so this is like a roof shaped and
form so this is like a roof shaped and
form so this is like a roof shaped and these are only made in the Dordogne
these are only made in the Dordogne
these are only made in the Dordogne region of France between 13,000 and
region of France between 13,000 and
region of France between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago that’s where they’re
17,000 years ago that’s where they’re
17,000 years ago that’s where they’re all located except for one site 250
all located except for one site 250
all located except for one site 250 miles to the south across the Pyrenees
miles to the south across the Pyrenees
miles to the south across the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain and it is exactly the
Mountains in Spain and it is exactly the
Mountains in Spain and it is exactly the same of talked to the researcher at that
same of talked to the researcher at that
same of talked to the researcher at that site we’ve looked at pictures even down
site we’ve looked at pictures even down
site we’ve looked at pictures even down to the little dots that you can see the
to the little dots that you can see the
to the little dots that you can see the technique that was used it’s the exact
technique that was used it’s the exact
technique that was used it’s the exact same thing
same thing
same thing how did it get there this is what’s so
how did it get there this is what’s so
how did it get there this is what’s so fun about the signs is that we can
fun about the signs is that we can
fun about the signs is that we can actually follow people and ideas at
actually follow people and ideas at
actually follow people and ideas at these incredible time depths and get a
these incredible time depths and get a
these incredible time depths and get a sense of how their culture was
sense of how their culture was
sense of how their culture was developing how were they learning about
developing how were they learning about
developing how were they learning about symbolism what was going on so we’ve got
symbolism what was going on so we’ve got
symbolism what was going on so we’ve got these signs that were being used very
these signs that were being used very
these signs that were being used very purposefully by people who obviously
purposefully by people who obviously
purposefully by people who obviously know what they meant
know what they meant
know what they meant the obvious question people always want
the obvious question people always want
the obvious question people always want to know is is it writing and I’m sorry
to know is is it writing and I’m sorry
to know is is it writing and I’m sorry I’m here today to shadow that it’s not
I’m here today to shadow that it’s not
I’m here today to shadow that it’s not writing yet though this inscription as
writing yet though this inscription as
writing yet though this inscription as it’s called is called the inscription
it’s called is called the inscription
it’s called is called the inscription from La Paz yaga this is a one-off and
from La Paz yaga this is a one-off and
from La Paz yaga this is a one-off and this is the thing we don’t have the
this is the thing we don’t have the
this is the thing we don’t have the consistency yet we don’t have enough
consistency yet we don’t have enough
consistency yet we don’t have enough characters to represent a spoken
characters to represent a spoken
characters to represent a spoken language it’s we’re not there yet but
language it’s we’re not there yet but
language it’s we’re not there yet but that doesn’t mean that there’s not very
that doesn’t mean that there’s not very
that doesn’t mean that there’s not very interesting things going on it’s really
interesting things going on it’s really
interesting things going on it’s really funny because I just spent all this time
funny because I just spent all this time
funny because I just spent all this time building my nice little list of 32 and
building my nice little list of 32 and
building my nice little list of 32 and now my next job is probably going to be
now my next job is probably going to be
now my next job is probably going to be to smash it back apart because there are
to smash it back apart because there are
to smash it back apart because there are some major omissions there where’s the
some major omissions there where’s the
some major omissions there where’s the landscape features where’s the weaponry
landscape features where’s the weaponry
landscape features where’s the weaponry where’s the daily life did nobody look
where’s the daily life did nobody look
where’s the daily life did nobody look up at the sky you know and so I think
up at the sky you know and so I think
up at the sky you know and so I think that personally and this is what we’re
that personally and this is what we’re
that personally and this is what we’re starting to dig into now I think a lot
starting to dig into now I think a lot
starting to dig into now I think a lot of these geometric signs might actually
of these geometric signs might actually
of these geometric signs might actually be representational as well and it could
be representational as well and it could
be representational as well and it could give us some fascinating insight into
give us some fascinating insight into
give us some fascinating insight into thematic categories and how these people
thematic categories and how these people
thematic categories and how these people were understanding their world quick
were understanding their world quick
were understanding their world quick example the pen of form so Penta form
example the pen of form so Penta form
example the pen of form so Penta form means feather shaped in Latin it’s being
means feather shaped in Latin it’s being
means feather shaped in Latin it’s being treated as a geometric sign but there
treated as a geometric sign but there
treated as a geometric sign but there are contexts such as this where people
are contexts such as this where people
are contexts such as this where people have muttered it kind of looks like a
have muttered it kind of looks like a
have muttered it kind of looks like a tree so my response would be maybe a
tree so my response would be maybe a
tree so my response would be maybe a tree sometimes it’s just a tree
tree sometimes it’s just a tree
tree sometimes it’s just a tree maybe we don’t have to overcomplicate
maybe we don’t have to overcomplicate
maybe we don’t have to overcomplicate this and so this is the kind of thing
this and so this is the kind of thing
this and so this is the kind of thing we’re looking at as well as questions
we’re looking at as well as questions
we’re looking at as well as questions about clusters of dots potentially being
about clusters of dots potentially being
about clusters of dots potentially being constellations or other things which
constellations or other things which
constellations or other things which would make really good sense and we see
would make really good sense and we see
would make really good sense and we see in other rock art traditions what I’ve
in other rock art traditions what I’ve
in other rock art traditions what I’ve done so far is just the baseline this
done so far is just the baseline this
done so far is just the baseline this was the start those were some really
was the start those were some really
was the start those were some really simple questions there is so much left
simple questions there is so much left
simple questions there is so much left to be done in Europe one big category
to be done in Europe one big category
to be done in Europe one big category that we’re still missing here is that my
that we’re still missing here is that my
that we’re still missing here is that my database does not have any of the
database does not have any of the
database does not have any of the portable art in it yet and yet the
portable art in it yet and yet the
portable art in it yet and yet the sixteen thousand year old necklace for
sixteen thousand year old necklace for
sixteen thousand year old necklace for instance from a burial in France has 45
instance from a burial in France has 45
instance from a burial in France has 45 different geometric configurations on it
different geometric configurations on it
different geometric configurations on it think about how that can help me
think about how that can help me
think about how that can help me understand what I’m seeing on a big
understand what I’m seeing on a big
understand what I’m seeing on a big panel on a wall they seem to be starting
panel on a wall they seem to be starting
panel on a wall they seem to be starting to group them up that line the cross the
to group them up that line the cross the
to group them up that line the cross the line I’ve seen that on a cave wall about
line I’ve seen that on a cave wall about
line I’ve seen that on a cave wall about 50 miles from there so this is part of
50 miles from there so this is part of
50 miles from there so this is part of the story and there are dusty artifacts
the story and there are dusty artifacts
the story and there are dusty artifacts loitering all over Europe in museums
loitering all over Europe in museums
loitering all over Europe in museums waiting to be documented so this is very
waiting to be documented so this is very
waiting to be documented so this is very much the start and imagine if we can
much the start and imagine if we can
much the start and imagine if we can start expanding the work that I’ve been
start expanding the work that I’ve been
start expanding the work that I’ve been doing in Western Europe to a global
doing in Western Europe to a global
doing in Western Europe to a global level now those would be some very big
level now those would be some very big
level now those would be some very big patterns thank you
”
Be First to Comment