How our ancestors with autistic traits led a revolution in Ice Age art

[Judi Lynn]

May 14, 2018 by Shelley Hughes, University of York



Detailed illustrations of lions painted in the Chauvet Cave.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The ability to focus on detail, a common trait among people with autism, allowed realism to flourish in Ice Age art, according to researchers at the University of York.

Around 30,000 years ago realistic art suddenly flourished in Europe. Extremely accurate depictions of bears, bison, horses and lions decorate the walls of Ice Age archaeological sites such as Chauvet Cave in southern France.

Why our ice age ancestors created exceptionally realistic art rather than the very simple or stylised art of earlier modern humans has long perplexed researchers.

Many have argued that psychotropic drugs were behind the detailed illustrations. The popular idea that drugs might make people better at art led to a number of ethically-dubious studies in the 60s where participants were given art materials and LSD.



Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-05-ancestors-autistic-traits-revolution-ice.html#jCp

[JoeOtterbein]

1. The artists finally get their due after 30 grand years!

So cool!!!!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. That's interesting.

I suddenly remembered how my somewhat autistic son (Asperger's) would get lost in details in art projects and never finish them.

I suspect that a lot of cultural and technological advances during our entire history have been from people not quite "normal".

[BigmanPigman]

3. As an artist, I have found that

many artists get lost in detail and that is part of being an artist. I used to think I had OCD since for as long as I can remember I could never leave a piece of art alone unless it was "perfect". In the process of making it perfect I usually screwed up the whole thing. Artists are never satisfied with their work. Throughout my life I realized I was not alone and other artists have the same habit. I am sure that artists a zillion years ago were no different. I have also done artwork while dosed (acid) and it screwed up whatever I attempted from the first second that I began. It NEVER was helpful, only a deterrent, in producing realistic art which I am normally very good at.