This just in from OZ:
Scientists say an Aboriginal rock art depiction of an extinct giant bird could be Australia's oldest painting.
The red ochre painting, which depicts two emu-like birds with their necks outstretched, could date back to the earliest days of settlement on the continent.
It was rediscovered at the centre of the Arnhem Land plateau about two years ago, but archaeologists first visited the site a fortnight ago.
A palaeontologist has confirmed the animals depicted are the megafauna species Genyornis.
Archaeologist Ben Gunn said the giant birds became extinct more than 40,000 years ago.
Hat Tip: Iain Davidson
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tags: Paleontology, birds, Genyornis newtoni, rock art, aboriginal peoples, Archaeology, Australia, Niwarla Gabarnmung, Arnhem Land, Flinders University
Australia's oldest painting?
A red ochre rock art depiction of two emu-like birds (Genyornis newtoni?)
with their necks outstretched.
Image:…
My interest is in developing a plausible evidence-based story of how modern humans emerged from ancestral species. This means guessing at what features of humans make us "human" and attempting to see the emergence of each of these features in the fossilized record of our bodies (bones) and…
tags: evolution, evolutionary biology, ancient DNA, aDNA, molecular biology, molecular ecology, archaeology, paleontology, fossil eggshell, extinct birds, giant moa, Dinornis robustus, elephant birds, Aepyornis maximus, Mullerornis, Thunderbirds, Genyornis, researchblogging.org,peer-reviewed…
A very early example of painting inside a built structure is being reported from Syria.
A Repost
Geometric polychromic painting on the interior of a built wall in a structure occupied by Hunter-Gatherers, about 11,000 years ago, in Syria. [source]
It looks like modern art, but this painting…
Nonetheless there is an account of the last San artist who was murdered during a period when the KhoiSan were hunted as vermin. The story goes that he wore a waist belt to which were attached springbok horns containing coloured powders. A tale that leaves me incredibly saddened.
And there is also San art that depicts the Boer oxwagons and European figures.
Marktime, I have seen the objects the man to whom you refer was wearing. They were in the Cape Town natural history museum. I believe they have been moved to the art museum.
"two emu-like birds with their necks outstretched"...
...so in other words some animals with roundish bottom half and long necks...
How do we "know" they are not some sort of dinosaur instead?