Art

In addition to adorning their bodies in one manner or another, all or nearly all peoples produce other forms of decorative art, typically in local or regional styles. These practices are very ancient among humans, as shown by archaeologically retrieved materials, objects, and cave- or rock-paintings. Symmetry of decoration is very widespread if not universal. Some handaxes, dated as early as 1,600k BP, but more definitely after 500k to 400k BP, are so exquisitely crafted and symmetrical, as well as being too large or small to suggest utilitarian purposes, that they strongly suggest developing sense of aesthetic value. Moreover, some of these axes show no sign of use. Some archaeologists suggest that, like peacock tails, these exhibitions of craft skill were means for males to advertise their fitness. The use of red ochre dates to 100k BP; apparently decorative geometric patterns from southern Africa date to 75k BP; sculpted figures from Germany date to between 38 and 32k BP; and the oldest figurative cave paintings, in southern France, date to 32k BP. Although not common, self-decoration occurs among some primates both in captivity and in the field.