Man, animal or both? Problems in the interpretation of early symbolic behaviour

Authors

  • Simona Petru Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.39.19

Keywords:

self-awareness, identity, perception of time, therianthropes, Palaeolithic

Abstract

The interpretation of the first symbolic behaviour is difficult, because our Western mind restricts us. It is hard, if not impossible, to understand the way ancient people perceived the world. The Palaeolithic was the period when the modern human mind had just emerged, and people understood time and the surrounding environment differently. With the appearance of the modern mind and the evolution of new perceptions of time, rituals and funerals emerged. Early therianthropes might be a reflection of this evolution of the human mind.

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Published

31. 12. 2012

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Petru, S. (2012). Man, animal or both? Problems in the interpretation of early symbolic behaviour. Documenta Praehistorica, 39, 269-276. https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.39.19