Oldest Human Artwork Found on 400,000-year-old Shell
Shell engraving found in Indonesia has raised questions over modern man's exclusive ability to indulge in artwork.
The engravings date from the time of Homo erectus, a Hominian specie hitherto presumed incapable of sophistication, has been dated to at least 450,000 years earlier than ochre artwork made by Homo Sapiens. The commonly held scientific notion is that Homo sapiens began to create artwork after a creative spark. The new zig-zag shell engravings show that not only could art have been created earlier than thought, it may also have developed over a period of time and not spontaneously, according to National Geographic.
"This is a truly spectacular find and has the potential to overturn the way we look at early Homo," said Nick Barton an archaeologist who was part of the discovery team, told Nature.
The shell was discovered along with remains of Homo erectus during an expedition in the late 19th century but it was not until seven years ago that the engravings were identified, The Independent reported.
"People never found this engraving because it's hardly visible. It's only when you have light from a certain angle that it stands out," said Josephine Joordens, a researcher at Leiden University who was part of the research team.
Though the team has refrained from calling the engravings work of art, it concluded that the drawings were intentionally made. Microscopic inspection of the engravings show the maker was keen to include detail. The shells also contained holes, which the research team concluded were made purposefully using tools to open shells. The location, date and the nature of engravings rule out any possibility of the engravings as work of Homo sapiens.
The research findings were published in the journal Nature.
