The promotion of art by primordial humans can be attributed to several factors, including cognitive, social, and cultural aspects. While we don't have direct evidence of the motivations of early humans, several theories help us understand why art might have been promoted:
Cognitive development: Creating art requires complex cognitive abilities, including imagination, abstract thinking, and the ability to represent thoughts and emotions symbolically. Early humans might have engaged in artistic expression as a way to develop and enhance these cognitive skills.
Communication and expression: Before the development of written language, art could have served as a powerful means of communication and expression. By creating images and symbols, early humans could convey stories, beliefs, and experiences to others in their community.
Ritual and spirituality: Many ancient artworks were connected to religious or spiritual practices. Art could have played a role in rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs related to the supernatural or the divine, helping early human societies understand and connect with their spiritual world.
Social cohesion and identity: Art could have played a crucial role in strengthening social bonds within communities. By participating in artistic activities, individuals might have felt a sense of belonging and shared identity, contributing to the cohesiveness of their social groups.
Cognitive surplus: Some anthropologists propose that early humans, after securing their basic survival needs, had surplus cognitive resources. Engaging in artistic pursuits might have been a way to utilize and express this surplus cognitive capacity.
Symbolic thinking: Early humans likely possessed symbolic thinking abilities, which allowed them to associate certain forms or images with abstract concepts. Art could have been a manifestation of this symbolic thinking, expressing ideas and beliefs through visual representations.
It's important to note that the reasons for promoting art might have varied among different early human societies and could have been influenced by environmental, cultural, and historical factors. While we may never know the exact motivations of primordial humans, studying ancient art and its archaeological context can provide valuable insights into the cognitive and cultural evolution of our ancestors.