Rebel From The Paleolithic

In 2013, a small slab was discovered at Spain’s Moli del Salt site. It was unimpressive—at first. After the grime was cleared, a carved tableau from 13,800 years ago rose to the surface. The simplistic picture consisted of seven structures resembling huts. If meant to show a prehistoric camp, it is the most ancient image of society ever found.

But it goes against the grain of Paleolithic art, which had strict stylistic themes of mostly animals, symbols, and people. The choice to draw architecture may have been an experiment to try social scenes or the work of a rebel who was sick of artistic boundaries.

Whatever the reason, the carver was different. He or she placed the huts in three levels in a likely attempt to create depth. Short of interviewing the carver, the interpretation of huts is not definitive.