Art-ifacts

Auditorium cave

How old is art? No, not Garfunkel, but rather the assemblage of objects for aesthetic appreciation in world culture. It seems that which many would believe to be the oldest artworks were discovered relatively (and surprisingly) recently.

The Bhimbetka Petroglyphs adorn the Auditorium Cave in Bhimbetka and another cave in Daraki-Chattan in a rock shelter, both in central India. They appear as circular reliefs in the rock and date back to 290,000 BC. That’s pretty old.This revelatory discovery changed the historical assessment that the oldest art was to be found in Africa.

The Auditorium Cave is more accurately a ‘cave gallery’ leading to a massive rock centerpiece called ‘Chief’s Rock’. Eleven petroglyphs or rock carvings can be found inside. They were carved on hard quartzite dating back to the Lower Paleolithic Age. In the smaller cave near Madhya Pradesh, almost 500 of the rock impressions, called cupules, appear on two vertical strips.

What was the purpose of these carvings? More importantly, was there a significant message or statement in them? Perhaps they were meant to warn us or foretell of something. A considerable many moons have passed since they appeared so it’s also highly probable that whatever that something is, has already occurred. Maybe that’s the biggest relief of all.

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Christopher Robinson

Sounds Ancient

Who discovered music? Were music and art both inceptions of the same inventor? From the earliest writings, there is evidence of music in man’s world and culture.

Allegedly, scientists discovered the earliest musical instrument dating between 43,000 and 42,000 BC.

The hydraulis was a pipe organ using water and air pressure.

The initial instances of western music are mainly Greek and their notations and condition are such that it can only be speculated and extrapolated as to how they should sound. Popular Greek instruments like the lure and the aulos, a double reed instrument, were both based on instruments from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

In Greek philosophy, music was believed to represent harmony throughout the universe. The incorporation of musical study in philosophy led to what we now describe as music theory.

Pythagoras developed several music theories.

Poetry was an integral component of art during this period and it figured significantly into much of the period’s music. Song, dance and poetry were regularly acted out to honor the Greek gods.

The Romans further elaborated on the music of the Greeks. Traditional Roman melodies based upon Greek ones were set to scripture, leading to what are termed Early Christian Chants and later, Gregorian Chants.

In China, a legend maintains that the founder of Chinese music is Ling Lun who, in an effort to mimic bird sounds, carved pipes from bamboo. Bone flutes found in Henan date back 9,000 years ago.

Carnatic music in ancient India was adapted from Persia and Islam. They are noted for their religious nature and singing style. The tambura played a drone which became a major feature of Raga, a subsequent classical Indian style.

These musical foundations proliferated throughout the ancient world influencing life and culture and informing disciplines such as art and dance as well as linking to the studies of mathematics and physics. Next week we’ll venture into the ancient world of art. See you then.

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Christopher Robinson