What symbols are shown in Upper Paleolithic cave paintings?
More common than figures of humans in these cave paintings are the symbols shown by hands, patterned lines, grids, and dots. Their meaning remains a mystery, but most interpretations suggest a magical or religious significance. Hands appear in a variety of styles and sizes. Some are “negatives,” achieved by sponging or possibly even blowing the earth-made paints around a hand placed against a cave wall. Some are as small as a two-year-old’s, and located high enough that a prehistoric toddler could not have reached that height without help. “Positive” images are also abundant, made simply by smearing paint on the hand and placing it palm down against the wall. Handprints are common in prehistoric artwork. The hands shown in the image to the left are found in the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. In this park, Aboriginal culture that began 20,000 years ago is reflected in rock art. In Gargas, France, many handprints appear to show shortened fingers. Were these hands the victims
