Seán Burke

a way of reinforcing sort of community bonds and and connecting with these people that you haven't seen in a long time or yeah it could be that they need a common language and that's bison you know wow yeah that's great that's visual storytelling you know it's a it's show don't tell truly sure it's a very ancient principle it turns out isn't it you know

a way of reinforcing sort of community bonds and and connecting with these people that you haven't seen in a long time or yeah it could be that they need a common language and that's bison you know wow yeah that's great that's visual storytelling you know it's a it's show don't tell truly sure it's a very ancient principle it turns out isn't it you know

There's also this idea that it's a way to exchange information. You know, some people have been off in Germany and they've seen something there and they need to communicate it efficiently.

There's also this idea that it's a way to exchange information. You know, some people have been off in Germany and they've seen something there and they need to communicate it efficiently.

Yeah, well, it's kind of Sean's first interpretation. They were just bored and doing it. It's what we call this art for art's sake approach. idea. So maybe it didn't mean anything. They're just bored and doodling on the walls. I don't agree with that one. I think it's a lot to invest. If you're just bored, you can do other things, right? And not go into a deep cave.

Yeah, well, it's kind of Sean's first interpretation. They were just bored and doing it. It's what we call this art for art's sake approach. idea. So maybe it didn't mean anything. They're just bored and doodling on the walls. I don't agree with that one. I think it's a lot to invest. If you're just bored, you can do other things, right? And not go into a deep cave.

There's lots of ideas about shamanism and ritual. Yeah, that's a very common interpretation.

There's lots of ideas about shamanism and ritual. Yeah, that's a very common interpretation.

So we've talked a lot about the people who made cave art, how they lived, where they lived, and maybe even what they used the art for, right? And we've discussed that maybe other species were engaging in making cave art too. But when we imagine a cave artist, what do we see? We tend to imagine these were adults engaging in this behavior.

So we've talked a lot about the people who made cave art, how they lived, where they lived, and maybe even what they used the art for, right? And we've discussed that maybe other species were engaging in making cave art too. But when we imagine a cave artist, what do we see? We tend to imagine these were adults engaging in this behavior.

And this is really a problem in archaeology more broadly, but especially when we're dealing with this period. But we know, or we should know, that children were around at this period too. And so we must be seeing some children's behaviours in the archaeological record as well.

And this is really a problem in archaeology more broadly, but especially when we're dealing with this period. But we know, or we should know, that children were around at this period too. And so we must be seeing some children's behaviours in the archaeological record as well.

So there have been some studies looking at the anatomical measurements of hand stencils or traces left by the fingers, we call those finger flutings, that have demonstrated that children were there alongside adults making this art. So this adds a whole new dimension to understanding cave arts.

So there have been some studies looking at the anatomical measurements of hand stencils or traces left by the fingers, we call those finger flutings, that have demonstrated that children were there alongside adults making this art. So this adds a whole new dimension to understanding cave arts.

So what we thought was actually an adult activity exclusively, we know that children are actively participating in and probably been taught the importance of this as a way to preserve knowledge in the society. But in my recent research, I've also shown some evidence of children kind of doing their own thing with cave art, which I think is really cool, too.

So what we thought was actually an adult activity exclusively, we know that children are actively participating in and probably been taught the importance of this as a way to preserve knowledge in the society. But in my recent research, I've also shown some evidence of children kind of doing their own thing with cave art, which I think is really cool, too.

So I looked at a panel from Las Monedas Cave in Spain. And this is a group of drawings that was previously interpreted as a panel of enigmatic signs, which is archaeology speak for we don't know, but it's very weird. It's quite low to the ground, the original Paleolithic cave floor. It consists of lots of sort of concentric circles and random lines that intersect each other.

So I looked at a panel from Las Monedas Cave in Spain. And this is a group of drawings that was previously interpreted as a panel of enigmatic signs, which is archaeology speak for we don't know, but it's very weird. It's quite low to the ground, the original Paleolithic cave floor. It consists of lots of sort of concentric circles and random lines that intersect each other.

And this is all characteristic of very young children's marks. So I've made the argument that this is children, very young children making this art.

And this is all characteristic of very young children's marks. So I've made the argument that this is children, very young children making this art.