D. Twisted Ovate Handaxe, England, ca. 300,000 BP E. Neanderthal Handaxe, France, ca. 75,000 BP F. Handaxe formed around Fossilized Scallop Shell, England, ca. 500,000-300,000 BP
”…of one of the fundamental characteristics of art. It's the notion of aesthetic surplus, "making something more beautiful or more symbolic for reasons that exceed the exigencies of toolmaking. Another fundamental element of art has been representation, figuration. The idea of this show is that these two qualities, which are common to so much of art, go back to the very origins of humanity. They're so fundamental to humanity that they precede modern humans.
"So, none of these objects were made by our species…”
– Michael Granberry, ”Art that predates modern man”, Dallas Morning New, 28JAN18.
Dr. Troglodyte