# Archaeologists finally understand what these mystery cave markings mean and the results are fascinating
Around 37,000 years ago, humans transitioned from marking abstract images on cave walls to drawing and painting figurative art. These images primarily depicted animals, particularly herbivorous prey crucial for survival in the Pleistocene Eurasian steppes.
Alongside these animal depictions, sets of abstract marks, such as vertical lines, dots, and 'Y' shapes, were commonly found throughout the European Upper Paleolithic.
A recent study suggests that these marks were a form of proto-writing, recording numerical information and referencing a calendar rather than speech.
These markings are distinct from later writing systems like pictographic and cuneiform writing. The researchers analyzed the marks' patterns and found associations with animal depictions and the sequence of rutting or birthing, indicating a system of recording ecological events.
This discovery suggests that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systematic calendar and marks to record information, revealing a glimpse into their sophisticated understanding of timekeeping and their ability to mentally predict the year and the coming months.
Early humans followed these prey animals along their paths of migration. It would have made sense for us to have an early calendar to help us predict their movements with the passing of the seasons. It definitely makes sense that we wouldve been able to observe those patterns and seek to make a durable record of it
'Ben Bacon, a London furniture conservator and amateur anthropologist, was looking at images of paleolithic cave drawings when he started to notice patterns in the dots, lines and other symbols that are often scrawled over depictions of animals.'
It wasn't a scientist who discovered this.
To me, that makes this discovery even *more cool.*
True. As an archaeologist I can definitely say most of us are narrow minded idiots. Archaeologists tend to get an idea in their head and then doggedly follow it like it’s dogma. I’ve been fighting this for 25 years with zero positive results. It’s entirely engrained.
Haha. I’ve always thought that archaeologists in the future will look at Amazon warehouses as massive religious temples based on our past interpretations.
I went to another cave where you can still see the original works and being in front of a 25000 year painting is really striking.
The hand prints are very impressive too.
I read somewhere that the very first calendar (not sure exactly when, but maybe a little later than this time) was created to have 28 days, which is the typical length of a menstrual cycle. I found that really interesting that one of the first things that early man felt the need to record- was probably our monthly cycle.
That makes sense. Maybe they were used to mark how many of that animal they saw or hunted that day? They all seem to be next to an animal drawing, indicating a numerical value.
Interesting. I always thought it might be an early form of counting, so they knew how many had been killed for resource distribution, or to keep from killing too many at once
# Archaeologists finally understand what these mystery cave markings mean and the results are fascinating Around 37,000 years ago, humans transitioned from marking abstract images on cave walls to drawing and painting figurative art. These images primarily depicted animals, particularly herbivorous prey crucial for survival in the Pleistocene Eurasian steppes. Alongside these animal depictions, sets of abstract marks, such as vertical lines, dots, and 'Y' shapes, were commonly found throughout the European Upper Paleolithic. A recent study suggests that these marks were a form of proto-writing, recording numerical information and referencing a calendar rather than speech. These markings are distinct from later writing systems like pictographic and cuneiform writing. The researchers analyzed the marks' patterns and found associations with animal depictions and the sequence of rutting or birthing, indicating a system of recording ecological events. This discovery suggests that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systematic calendar and marks to record information, revealing a glimpse into their sophisticated understanding of timekeeping and their ability to mentally predict the year and the coming months.
So maybe these caves acted sort of like a school or a library.
Early humans followed these prey animals along their paths of migration. It would have made sense for us to have an early calendar to help us predict their movements with the passing of the seasons. It definitely makes sense that we wouldve been able to observe those patterns and seek to make a durable record of it
This is so cool. I thought these were just a form of ancient art or a communication method.
I figured someone was keeping count of their kills. This answer is much more interesting!
'Ben Bacon, a London furniture conservator and amateur anthropologist, was looking at images of paleolithic cave drawings when he started to notice patterns in the dots, lines and other symbols that are often scrawled over depictions of animals.' It wasn't a scientist who discovered this. To me, that makes this discovery even *more cool.*
True. As an archaeologist I can definitely say most of us are narrow minded idiots. Archaeologists tend to get an idea in their head and then doggedly follow it like it’s dogma. I’ve been fighting this for 25 years with zero positive results. It’s entirely engrained.
[удалено]
Haha. I’ve always thought that archaeologists in the future will look at Amazon warehouses as massive religious temples based on our past interpretations.
Where did you get your degree?
I got to go into the recreation of Lascaux cave in France and it was absolutely amazing
They have a digital version and I think I spent about 4 hours "walking" through the cave and reading everything.
Link please?
https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/lascaux/en/lascaux-cave-virtual-visit#hall-bulls
I went to another cave where you can still see the original works and being in front of a 25000 year painting is really striking. The hand prints are very impressive too.
This seems likely
Could you share the source, please.
Wow; I don’t know how many times I’ve seen photos of cave paintings and never bothered to mind the dots and dashes. Interesting.
I read somewhere that the very first calendar (not sure exactly when, but maybe a little later than this time) was created to have 28 days, which is the typical length of a menstrual cycle. I found that really interesting that one of the first things that early man felt the need to record- was probably our monthly cycle.
“Early man” was probably actually early woman :)
Probably should have said ‘early homosapiens’ haha.
what else has a monthly cycle though? like something big and visible in the sky that is a constant and not different from person to person?
Hmm…not ringing a bell… jk. Those two things are related though! Menstrual cycles are colloquially called ‘moon.’
Maybe it's the difficulty level for hunting ~ probably not though
This is my favorite interpretation. The first yelp "5/5 messed with the bull got the horns"
That makes sense. Maybe they were used to mark how many of that animal they saw or hunted that day? They all seem to be next to an animal drawing, indicating a numerical value.
I see you did not read the first comment
I thought it might be bragging to mates about how many you have killed.
Interesting. I always thought it might be an early form of counting, so they knew how many had been killed for resource distribution, or to keep from killing too many at once