anthropologists working in southern france have 1 that a 1.5 metric ton block of 2 3（石灰岩） constitutes the earliest evidence of wall art. their research, reported in the most recent edition of the 4 of the national academy of sciences, shows the piece to be approximately 37,000 years old and offers rich evidence of the role art played in the daily lives of early aurignacian humans. the research team, composed of more than a dozen scientists from american and european universities and research institutions, has been 5（挖掘） at the site of the discovery -- abri castanet -- for the past 15 years. abri castanet and its sister site abri blanchard have long been recognized as being among the oldest sites in eurasia bearing artifacts of human symbolism. hundreds of personal 7 have been discovered, including pierced animal teeth, pierced shells, ivory and soapstone（皂石，滑石） 8, engravings, and paintings on limestone 9.
"early aurignacian humans functioned, more or less, like humans today," explained new york university 10 professor randall white, one of the study's co-authors. "they had 11 complex social identities communicated through personal ornamentation, and they practiced sculpture and 12 arts."
aurignacian culture existed until approximately 28,000 years ago.
in 2007, the team discovered an engraved block of limestone in what had been a rock shelter occupied by a group of aurignacian 13 hunters. subsequent geological analysis revealed the ceiling had been about two meters above the floor on which the aurignacians lived -- within arms' reach.
using carbon dating, the researchers determined that both the engraved ceiling, which includes depictions of animals and geometric forms, and the other artifacts found on the living surface below were approximately 37,000 years old.
"this art appears to be slightly older than the famous paintings from the grotte chauvet in southeastern france," explained white, referring to the cave paintings discovered in 1994.
"but unlike the chauvet paintings and engravings, which are deep underground and away from living areas, the engravings and paintings at castanet are directly associated with everyday life, given their 14 to tools, fireplaces, bone and antler tool production, and 6 workshops."
he added that this discovery, combined with others of approximately the same time period in southern germany, northern italy, and southeastern france, raises new questions about the 15 and adaptive significance of art and other forms of graphic representation in the lives of modern human populations.
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