Paleolithic: Difference between revisions

ocurs across prehistoric inhabitation
- see Cave Painting entry at wikipeida for description and dates across the world
techniques
subjects
purpose
- theories of art or communication
- art or ritual theory
  - to assist in the hunt (ritual)
- communication & economic function
  - survival tool
    - animal populations, especially herd animals, varied periodically
  - cave paintings to communicate crucial information
  - caves as place for exchange and information for periodic gatherings or for those passing through at different times, and marking place and time
    - pictured animals not necessarily the type hunted at the cave location suggests communication and education role
    - migratory birds depicted
    - exaggeration of antlers and fatty parts in depictions suggests informational purpose
  - economic theory supported by disappearance of cave painting with climate warming and ecological change that led from reliance on migratory herd kill of Ice Age tundra period to woodland and warming period animal dispersal and abundance
  - reference: Mithen, Steven, "After the Ice" pp. 148-149

Modern Examples[edit | edit source]

North Sentinelese Islanders
- see article "Stone Age tribe kills fishermen who strayed on to island," London Telegraph, Feb 8, 2006
traditional societies of the Upper Nile: notes from "The Wild River" video
- Morsi
  - herders & hunter-gatherers
  - semi-sendentary
  - lip tattooing and earlobe stretching
  - social solidarity & common purpose
Avandi
- slash & burn technology
- lifestyle persistence for 20,000 years
Samburu
- warriors: drink cow milk and camel blood
- use beads to measure value of cattle
- herding
Dinkas:
- "people of the cow"
- social structures built around cattle
- names, values,
- only slaughter cattle for sacrifice
- social structures
  - ceremonies

Journey of Mankind: animated time-map of spread of modern humans from 160,000 BC to 12,000 BC. Excellent visual teaching tool!
NOAA Modern Human Timeline
bulleted link to web pages/ articles

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 === Boats ===
-=== Fishing Techniques ==
+=== Fishing Techniques ===
 * Fishing doesn't start until Cro-Magnm >> verify
 * requires nets, baits
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 === Calendars & Math===
 * See here for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_tally_sticks#Paleolithic_tally_sticks Paleolithic Tally Sticks]
 * todo >>
 == Art & Religion ==