Prehistoric Writing: Stone Age Jottings

Stone Age jottings ONewScientist French caves are known for their prehistoric rock art. But also marked on the walls around the paintings are 26 symbols that have appeared again and again at French sites across 25,000 years of prehistory. Early signs suggest that many of these symbols crop up in other parts of the world too, leading some to wonder if symbolic communication arose with early humans AVIFORM CIRCLE CLAVIFORM CORDIFORM CROSSHATCH CRUCIFORM CUPULE DOT FINGER FLUTING FLABELLIFORM VE 3 sites. 30,000 then 15,000 15% of sites. All time periods 13% of sites. Less than 10% of sites. Appears between 30,000 and 13,000 years ago 20% of sites. 15% of sites. 17% of sites. 42% of sites. 15% of sites. 18% of sites. All time periods All time periods All time periods All time periods All time periods All time periods All time periods years ago HALF CIRCLE OVAL France 18% of sites. All time periods 30% of sites. All time periods Czech Republic LINE China Portugal 70% of sites. All time periods Italy Spain o: North NEGATIVE HAND #3 Africa X VA North America 15% of sites. 30,000 to 13,000 India : VA Borneo years ago Burma OPEN-ANGLE South America VA Central Africa East Africa 42% of sites, New All time periods * VA Guinea Malaysia Southern Africa PENNIFORM PECTIFORM Australia #3 25% of sites. First emerged 25,000 years ago 5% of sites. First emerged 25,000 years ago POSITIVE HAND QUADRANGLE RENIFORM SCALARIFORM SERPENTIFORM SPIRAL TECTIFORM TRIANGLE ZIG-ZAG 7% of sites. 20% of sites. 7% of sites. Between 30,000 and 13,000 Found in 2 sites. From 25,000 and 15,000 years ago 20% of sites. Rare. Between 35,000 and 13,000 Found in 3 sites. Emerged 25,000 years ago 10% of sites. Between 25,000 and 13,000 Found in 7 sites. Appears between 30,000 and 13,000 years ago All time periods All time periods From 20,000 to 13,000 years ago years ago years ago years ago SOURCE GENEVIEVE VON PETZINGER, ANDRE LERO • DON #3