"One of the most significant works on our evolutionary ancestry since Richard Leakey's paradigm-shattering Origins, The First Signs is the first-ever exploration of the little-known geometric images that accompany most cave art around the world--the first indications of symbolic meaning, intelligence, and language. Imagine yourself as a caveman or woman. The place: Europe. The time: 25,000 years ago, the last Ice Age. In reality, you live in an open-air...

"The recognition of Indian rock art as an archaeo-historical source dates back to 1868, but it was only with the 1958 discovery of Bhimbetka, the spectacularly rich rock art site in Madhya Pradesh that it started generating wide interest. In this book, Erwin Neumayer presents, for the first time, a well-rounded overview of rock art in India: visual survivals from the many layered Indian history, including the late Stone Age and later Chalcolithic...

"Rock art is considered an archaeological artifact reflecting activities from the past, it is also a phenomenon with present-day meaning and relevance to both indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Challenging traditional ways of thinking about this recognizable form of visual heritage and providing insight into its contemporary significance"--Provided by publisher.