Even the people of the Palaeolithic were possibly fascinated by “animated pictures”. This is suggested by results of an experimental study in which archaeologists attempted replicas of limestone carved by people in what is now France 15,000 years ago. The stones show traces of heating, suggesting that they were placed close to hearths. As the researchers report, the flickering firelight created a kind of animation effect during the experiments, which made the animal depictions appear dynamic.
Ice Age cave paintings, carvings and engravings from various sites show how deeply art is rooted in human history. The objects on which our ancestors in Europe immortalized themselves at the end of the last Ice Age also include so-called plaques, which are assigned to the cultural stage of the Magdalenian period. These are engraved stones that have been found at various sites. The study by researchers led by Andy Needham from the University of York focused on 50 limestone plaques that were discovered in the 19th century at a site near Montastruc in France and are now in the British Museum in London. They are dated to be 15,000 years old and many bear carved depictions of animals from the Ice Age fauna.
Heat marks on engraved stones
As the scientists report, reddish discolorations on some of the stones aroused their particular interest. As they explain, it was obvious that these were traces of the effects of heat, because certain substances in the limestone are known to cause such discolouration at high temperatures. But how could they have arisen on the decorated stones? To investigate this question, the scientists applied methods of experimental archaeology. They made replicas of some of the stones from a similar material, engraved them in the manner of the models, and then conducted experiments with them: they placed the replicas at different distances and configurations near campfires.
“It seemed possible that the heat marks visible on some plaques were just caused by accidental exposure. But our experiments with the replications suggest that they are more likely to be due to being intentionally placed near a fire,” says Needham. Specifically, the results of the experiments suggest that they formed a kind of enclosure around hearths. The experiments, 3D models and virtual reality depictions also showed how prehistoric people would have perceived the stones in the glow of the fire at night. “It became clear that the soft dynamic light source made the engraved shapes appear animated,” the scientists write. They suspect that people felt the same way when creating and viewing the depictions.
Accompanied “living” art campfire stories?
“Creating art by firelight would have been a very sensory experience that activated different parts of the human brain,” says Needham. “We know that the play of light and shadow enhances the human tendency to see shapes and faces in inanimate objects. This could also explain why many plaques used the natural features of the rock to depict animals or artistic forms,” says the researcher.
Co-author Izzy Wisher from the University of Durham continues: “During the Magdalenian, conditions were very cold and the landscape was more exposed. While humans were well adapted to the cold and wore warm clothing, fire was still very important to keep warm. Our results support the assumption that the warm embers of the fire formed the focal point for the community to meet, tell stories – and express themselves artistically. It shows how these activities have been part of what makes us human for thousands of years, and also highlights the cognitive complexity of prehistoric humans.”
Source: University of York, professional article: PLoS ONE, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266146