Talking On Eggshells
They have found the origins of graphic communication and symbolic thought, and apparently it was 60,000 years ago in South Africa.
The scientists speculate that the graphics communicated identity. It’s very compelling that this “giant leap in human evolution” (moving beyond mere conceptual thought to a symbolic system) was driven by a need to express identity. As one of the first societal demands of early man, it is interesting to speculate if communication of identity was first driven by a desire to separate the individual or align with a group or tribe.
Today, as we are watching expression of identity (and the media to communicate it) diversify, we see (again?) the fundamental shift from identity being used to define oneself from others to an inclusive expression of identity that emphasizes connection to many.
