Kung Woman Essay

Although often subject to interpretation, anthropological and archaeological findings allow for modern people to have an insight in earlier people’s way of life. Through art, tools, and architecture, we are able to have insight into life for humans who lived thousands of years ago. Further, we are able to create a timeline of sorts for the transition from Paleolithic to Neolithic society. One type of source that most clearly records history is the written word. Although ancient Paleolithic and Neolithic people did not really possess a written language, a more recent source does shed some light into Paleolithic era. An excerpt from Nisa: The Life and Words of an !Kung Woman allow scholars an in-depth look into how Paleolithic people may have

Even if they do live a similar lifestyle to their ancestors, contact with agricultural societies or the natural evolution of society over time contaminates a perfect look into the past (46). However, recent written accounts combined with archeological findings can allow more interpretations to be made about the past. One such finding is the Lascaux rock art depicting what appears to be a male figure laying in front of a wounded bison and a rhinoceros with three dots beneath its tail (52). While the exact meaning of this art is debated, it does allow some insight into the era. Its narrative like composition leads some scholars to believe this to be early evidence of a written story (53). This also sets a theme for the art of the era. Indeed, much of the art of the Paleolithic peoples adhered to set of aesthetic conventions (52). These conventions indicate a long standing social order (52). In the Neolithic era, many new art innovations evolved from the new agricultural economy (53). This allows scholars to identify a change in social order between these two eras. Realistic figurines, pottery, basket weaving, and advancements in architecture were some of the trademarks of the Neolithic era. For example, the Catalhuyuk figurine and Stonehenge demonstrate this era’s rise of complexity in art, tools, and architecture (53, 57). While some of these anthropological and