arch feb 27

Upper Paleolithic Innovations

• The Upper Paleolithic period, around 35,000 years ago, marks a significant shift in human creativity and material use.

  • New materials such as bone, ivory, and antler became commonplace for creating both tools and artworks.

  • Stone and shell were also used to produce tools and decorative items.

Artwork and Toolmaking

• An explosion of creativity seen in various forms of artwork and jewelry:

  • Jewelry: Carved stone and bone beads, perforated animal teeth, and shell jewelry became common.

  • Cave Art: A significant amount of cave art and figurines appear around this period. Figurines made of stone, ivory, and clay become numerous, suggesting increased artistic expression.

  • Utilitarian Objects: Even practical objects like spear throwers began to feature decorative elements.

Chronology of Art

• Most Upper Paleolithic artwork (about 80%) dates to the last 20,000 years, but some artifacts date back to 35,000 years ago.

  • Venus Figurines: Widely scattered across Europe, about 200 figurines have been found, often made from ivory, bone, wood, and stone (often soft stone).

    • Characteristically exaggerated reproductive features suggest a possible association with fertility rituals; heads are often absent or distorted, indicating they are symbolic rather than representational.

Portable vs Non-Portable Artwork

• Portable Artwork: Includes jewelry and figurines, found primarily at larger habitation sites. Potentially associated with communal gatherings.

  • Suggests social functions like rites of passage, marriage ceremonies, or trade among different groups during seasonal gatherings.

• Non-Portable Artwork: Refers to cave art, mostly found in France and Spain, with very few habitation evidence in these caves, suggesting different uses for artistic spaces.

Cave Art and Its Significance

• Cave art often located deep within caves, away from habitation sites, suggesting they served ritual or sacred purposes.

• The primary types of cave art include:

  • Paintings: Mostly of animals, sometimes including human hand stencils created by blowing pigment around a hand.

  • Engravings: Generally more likely to depict human figures; also primarily animals and abstract designs.

Themes and Characteristics of Cave Paintings

• Paintings shown primarily in profile, often high on cave walls requiring elevated positions for painting.

  • Machinery or scaffolding for accessing heights has not been found, raising questions about how these paintings were created.

  • Many animal depictions are life-sized and suggest intricate detail in portrayal, indicating the skill of specialized artists.

Specific Sites of Interest

• Lascaux Cave:

  • Over 600 paintings and 1,500 engravings, mostly dating from roughly 17,000 years ago.

  • Animals depicted are primarily prey (e.g., bulls, horses, deer) yet notably absent from the hunting sites, suggesting complex meanings beyond mere representation.

• Chauvet Cave: One of the oldest sites, dating back to about 36,000 years ago, showcasing substantial paintings.

  • Complex layering indicates long-term use and evolving traditions.

• Cocere Cave: Unique for being a coastal site, with underwater access; contains similar styles and depictions of marine life.

Theories About Cave Art Purpose

• Art for Art's Sake? Some argue artistic expression flourished without specific significance, though this raises questions about choice of location.

• Sympathetic Magic Theory: Suggests artwork might be a ritual to ensure successful hunting, tying it to animistic beliefs.

• Shamanic Practices: Artwork could represent visions experienced during spiritual trance or quest rituals, possibly creating a connection with animal spirits.

• Complex Communication System: Alternatively, art might have conveyed information among groups, although the remote locations challenge this idea.

Conclusion and Further Considerations

• The diverse functions of artwork suggest multifaceted cultural roles that may vary across different communities.

• Evidence points toward high levels of social organization, ritual complexity, and the potential for sophisticated symbolic thought during the Upper Paleolithic.