Humans Making History through Continuities and Discontinuities in Art

Rock art in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde UNESCO World Heritage Sites played a pivotal role in shaping human history through its deep integration with societal narratives, cognitive evolution, and ritual practices. The study reveals that early representational art was not just visual but also deeply tied to oral storytelling, influencing foraging behaviors, social structures, and cognitive development. Archaeologists reconstruct this archaeohistory by analyzing the material remnants of rock art, interpreting its spatial and temporal distribution, and considering its potential role in ritual engagement. This approach highlights how persistent rock art marks, though detached from their original creators and viewers, continue to narrate human history through interpretation.

Davidson, I. (2023). Humans Making History through Continuities and Discontinuities in Art. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 33(4), 637–654. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774323000057