BIOLOGY Volume 3 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

26. EVOLUTION, OR THE HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH

26.8. Human Evolution

26.8.5. Art and Religion

Despite similarities in many aspects of behavior between humans and other primates as well as non-primates, certain behavioral traits—including art, religion, and free will—are uniquely human.

The earliest depictions of animals and humans date back to the Upper Paleolithic (30,000 years ago). Some of these are carved on pieces of wood or ivory, while others are etched on cave walls. The purpose of this ancient art remains unknown, yet we know that creating such artwork required tools, skill, keen observation, thought, motivation, and perhaps leisure time. Cave paintings are best known from Examples found in Lascaux, France; dating back no more than 20,000 years, they utilize earth pigments, soot, and burned animal Tissues. Particularly striking in these paintings are the variety of abstractions and techniques employed, as well as the meaning behind the works. Were they associated with rituals, religious beliefs, simply "art for art's sake," or merely early attempts at graffiti?

In some instances, the drawings depict animals and sexual scenes, and they are frequently linked with death and birth. Whether these images held religious significance remains unclear, though the prevailing view today is that they were not associated with cultic figures in our modern sense of the term. Religion is thought to have begun developing around the same time as cave painting, as evidenced by burial practices discovered across various PARTS OF THE globe. In many cases, the deceased were buried alongside various offerings—food, tools, and decorative ornaments. Such symbolism indicates the existence of established religious rituals, which in turn require conscious, rational thought—one of the most sophisticated aspects of cultural development. Today, it is generally believed that religion emerged relatively recently, with the earliest tombs, temples, and associated artifacts dating back less than 10,000 years.