First forms of abstract and figurative drawings discovered, dating back 73,000 years

An abstract lattice-like pattern of ochre color has been discovered on a silcrete flake, a hardened soil crust covered by layers dating back to the Mesolithic 73,000 years ago in South Africa at the Blombos archaeological site. This was revealed today in the journal Nature.

Chemical and microscopic analyses confirm that the red ochre pigment with which the design was made had been intentionally applied to the soil with an ochre crayon: the crayon was probably soft and produced lines that adhered well to the silcrete; certainly the design was much more visible at the time it was made.

This predates the earliest forms of abstract and figurative drawings by at least 30,000 years, demonstrating the skill in producing drawings with different techniques ofHomo Sapiens in South Africa.

In fact, the silcrete flake in question, mined in 2011, came from a level associated with stone tools from Still Bay, which has previously unearthed bead shells, reticulated carvings on ochre, and a variety of novel technologies.

Source: Nature

First forms of abstract and figurative drawings discovered, dating back 73,000 years

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