There are two schools of thought about Palaeolithic cave paintings made by our ancestors: Those who seek to explain them and those who don’t.
Iegor Reznikoff, a Professor of Philosophy who specializes in acoustics at the University of Paris X at Nanterre, is an academic who researches the deeper meanings of the ancient cave paintings in Lascaux, Altamira and Chauvet. There are over 350 prehistoric caves that contain prehistoric paintings throughout France and Spain. Most of these ancient cave paintings are of animals: bison, ibex, rhinoceros, horses and stags. One of the great mysteries that remains about the cave paintings is that while they were created by man, there are very few representations of humans in the paintings.
In an article in the Journal of Music and Meaning, (JMM 3, Fall 2004/Winter 2005) entitled On Primitive Elements of Musical Meaning, Professor Reznikoff refers to “The Unspeakable Meaning” of music in general, the most abstract of art forms. It is indeed ironic that music is a universal language full of meaning and literal resonance for humans and yet we don’t know why. Reznikoff also notes St. Augustine’s attempt to define the meaning of music for us when he says, “Music is the art of good movement.” It reminds one of the great jazz song by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” from 1931.
Professor Reznikoff makes the argument that sound and movement are among the first sensations we experience as fetuses in our mother’s wombs, and that these sensation seeds continue to literally resonate for us throughout our lifetime. The musical evidence of lullabies, hymns, battle songs and the requiem prove that music is an essential part of our human lives from the cradle to the grave.
Reznikoff has reported that flutes made of bone have been found in many cave sites, a clue that music could have been incorporated into the experience of the cave paintings in some way. While many cave explorers and scientists have examined and deconstructed the visual evidence of paintings, Reznikoff has apparently explored these caves by using his voice and has found a correlation between the most resonant parts of the caves and the paintings themselves. Reznikoff reports a connection between red markings and significantly acoustical areas of these caves.
Iegor Reznikoff, a Professor of Philosophy who specializes in acoustics at the University of Paris X at Nanterre, is an academic who researches the deeper meanings of the ancient cave paintings in Lascaux, Altamira and Chauvet. There are over 350 prehistoric caves that contain prehistoric paintings throughout France and Spain. Most of these ancient cave paintings are of animals: bison, ibex, rhinoceros, horses and stags. One of the great mysteries that remains about the cave paintings is that while they were created by man, there are very few representations of humans in the paintings.
In an article in the Journal of Music and Meaning, (JMM 3, Fall 2004/Winter 2005) entitled On Primitive Elements of Musical Meaning, Professor Reznikoff refers to “The Unspeakable Meaning” of music in general, the most abstract of art forms. It is indeed ironic that music is a universal language full of meaning and literal resonance for humans and yet we don’t know why. Reznikoff also notes St. Augustine’s attempt to define the meaning of music for us when he says, “Music is the art of good movement.” It reminds one of the great jazz song by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” from 1931.
Professor Reznikoff makes the argument that sound and movement are among the first sensations we experience as fetuses in our mother’s wombs, and that these sensation seeds continue to literally resonate for us throughout our lifetime. The musical evidence of lullabies, hymns, battle songs and the requiem prove that music is an essential part of our human lives from the cradle to the grave.
Reznikoff has reported that flutes made of bone have been found in many cave sites, a clue that music could have been incorporated into the experience of the cave paintings in some way. While many cave explorers and scientists have examined and deconstructed the visual evidence of paintings, Reznikoff has apparently explored these caves by using his voice and has found a correlation between the most resonant parts of the caves and the paintings themselves. Reznikoff reports a connection between red markings and significantly acoustical areas of these caves.
The evidence presented by Reznikoff does seem to indicate that music or sound was a part of the significance of the cave experience for our Paleolithic ancestors some 32,000 years ago.
Take a virtual tour of the magical Lascaux cave in France here.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080704130439.htm
