Researchers Announce Discovery Of World's Oldest Drawing
- 6 years ago
An international team of researchers recently announced the discovery of what they’ve determined to be the “earliest evidence of drawing.”
An international team of researchers recently announced the discovery of what they've determined to be the "earliest evidence of drawing." It is comprised of cross-hatched lines made with ochre crayon and was found in South Africa's Blombos Cave. The team estimates the design is roughly 73,000 years old, making it about 30,000 years older than any verified imagery. Determining that the intersecting lines were created with intention took a number of years and numerous, detailed examinations. "The team examined and photographed the piece under a microscope to establish whether the lines were part of the stone or whether it was applied to it," according to a press release issued by the University of The Witwatersrand. " To ensure their results, they also examined the piece by using…spectroscopy and an electron microscope." "Before this discovery…archaeologists have…been convinced that unambiguous symbols first appeared when Homo sapiens entered Europe, about 40 000 years ago…Recent archaeological discoveries in Africa, Europe and Asia…support a much earlier emergence for the production and use of symbols," Christopher Henshilwood, one of the researchers, commented.
An international team of researchers recently announced the discovery of what they've determined to be the "earliest evidence of drawing." It is comprised of cross-hatched lines made with ochre crayon and was found in South Africa's Blombos Cave. The team estimates the design is roughly 73,000 years old, making it about 30,000 years older than any verified imagery. Determining that the intersecting lines were created with intention took a number of years and numerous, detailed examinations. "The team examined and photographed the piece under a microscope to establish whether the lines were part of the stone or whether it was applied to it," according to a press release issued by the University of The Witwatersrand. " To ensure their results, they also examined the piece by using…spectroscopy and an electron microscope." "Before this discovery…archaeologists have…been convinced that unambiguous symbols first appeared when Homo sapiens entered Europe, about 40 000 years ago…Recent archaeological discoveries in Africa, Europe and Asia…support a much earlier emergence for the production and use of symbols," Christopher Henshilwood, one of the researchers, commented.