The discovery of 60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell engravings in southern Africa has shed new light on the cognitive abilities of early humans. The engravings, found at several archaeological sites, feature intricate geometric patterns and deliberate rules, indicating a level of sophistication previously unseen in ancient human artifacts.
Key Insights
The engravings reveal a visual grammar and an ability to organize visual space according to abstract principles, suggesting that early humans had a more advanced understanding of aesthetics and design than previously thought. The presence of deliberate rules and patterns in the engravings implies a level of cognitive complexity and creativity, highlighting the sophistication of the human mind 60,000 years ago.
