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      Evaluating the Evidence for Lunar Calendars in Upper Palaeolithic Parietal Art

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      Cambridge Archaeological Journal
      Cambridge University Press (CUP)

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          Abstract

          In this paper, we examine the lunar calendar interpretation to evaluate whether it is a viable explanation for the production of Upper Palaeolithic parietal art. We consider in detail the history of this approach, focusing on recently published variations on this interpretation. We then discuss the scientific method and whether these recent studies are designed to address the research questions necessary to test a lunar calendar hypothesis. More broadly, we explore challenges related to inferring meaning in art of the deep past, the use of secondary sources and selecting appropriate ethnographic analogies. Finally, we assess claims that the lunar calendar interpretation documents the world's oldest (proto)writing system. We conclude that the lunar calendar interpretation as currently construed suffers from multiple theoretical and methodological weaknesses preventing it from being a viable explanation for the production of Upper Palaeolithic art. We further find that claims following from this interpretation to have discovered the oldest known (proto)writing system are unsubstantiated.

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            Hunter-gatherer diets—a different perspective

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              The Mind in the Cave: Conciousness and the Origins of Art.

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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                Journal
                Cambridge Archaeological Journal
                CAJ
                Cambridge University Press (CUP)
                0959-7743
                1474-0540
                April 22 2024
                : 1-18
                Article
                10.1017/S0959774324000155
                3fd5525f-9b23-4b24-b944-435ad0725253
                © 2024

                http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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