Ostrich Eggshell Engravings Reveal Sophisticated Human Mind 60,000 Years Ago
Complex geometric patterns found in southern African artifacts suggest prior mental planning
More than 60,000 years ago, human groups living in southern Africa produced engravings on ostrich eggshells. The marks display intricate geometric patterns such as recurring grids, parallel lines, right angles, and repeated shapes.
Organization of the drawings
Researchers who examined the artifacts observed that the designs did not arise spontaneously. Instead, the lines follow arrangements that resemble formal rules, indicating that the engravers applied principles of organization when creating the images.
Mental planning
Some interpretations suggest that the authors of the engravings may have conceived the entire pattern in their minds before carving the shell. This hypothesis points to the ability to visually project a complete design, demonstrating a level of abstract thinking that goes beyond simple random strokes.
The body of evidence reinforces the idea that, even in such remote periods, humans already possessed advanced cognitive abilities, capable of conceiving and applying geometric systems to everyday objects.
With information from ScienceDaily.
Source: ScienceDaily