Читать книгу Introducing Anthropology - Laura Pountney - Страница 48

Language is only possible because humans are able to think symbolically. Malinowski (1939: 955) pointed out that ‘symbolism must make its appearance with the earliest appearance of human culture’. The use of symbols (something used to represent an idea or object) changed the way that humans lived and provided new means of communicating and coping in an unpredictable world. The ability to use symbols and communicate helped humans to pass on information, cooperate and generally become more efficient and survive.

symbol Something which is used to represent an idea or object

Picture of a bison from 16,500 years ago in Altamira Cave, Spain, showing sophisticated use of three dimensions to represent the animal’s legs and stomach. (Rameessos / Wikimedia Commons)

Ultimately, words and symbols led to the elaborate language structures and the complex human societies that exist today. With materials such as ochre, our human ancestors marked objects and possibly also their own skin. Colours were probably used as symbols by which they identified themselves and their group. Symbols can be complex and mean several different things at the same time for humans. By 40,000 years ago, they were creating two- and three-dimensional images of the world around them. By 17,000 years ago, they had developed complex artistic techniques.