Early Evidence:
* Neanderthals (40,000 - 400,000 years ago): There is evidence of possible symbolic behavior among Neanderthals, such as the use of pigments and the deliberate arrangement of objects. However, their purpose and meaning remain debated.
* Early Homo sapiens (around 100,000 years ago): Some argue that the earliest known cave paintings, found in Indonesia and Spain, date back to this period. These paintings depict animals and other abstract symbols, suggesting early forms of communication and expression.
Important Developments:
* Paleolithic Era (30,000 - 10,000 years ago): This period saw an explosion of cave paintings and other forms of art, including engravings on bone and stone. These works depict animals, humans, and abstract patterns.
* Mesolithic Era (10,000 - 5,000 years ago): The development of pottery during this period introduced new forms of symbolic expression, allowing for decoration and storytelling.
* Neolithic Era (5,000 - 2,000 BC): The emergence of agriculture led to the creation of settlements and the need for record-keeping. This resulted in the development of early forms of writing, such as cuneiform and hieroglyphs, which used symbols to represent sounds and ideas.
Key Points:
* The concept of "symbol" is complex. Early symbols may have been used for various purposes, including communication, ritual, and artistic expression.
* Archaeological discoveries continue to shed light on the origins of symbols. New findings could push back our understanding of when they first emerged.
Therefore, while we can't definitively say when the very first symbols were made, the evidence suggests that symbolic thought and expression developed over a long period, possibly even before our own species emerged.