The World’s Oldest Expressions: Using an Intersectional Framework to Re-investigate Prehistoric Parietal Art

Abstract

Prehistoric parietal art are examples of some of the world’s earliest human creations. While largely Westernized and modern ways of thinking about art, I believe there is much more to be discovered about such emotional expressions both displayed and received by experiencing prehistoric art. Previous research has largely focused on the tangible aspects of prehistoric parietal art and has just begun to move away from a Eurocentric worldview. While broader conclusions may ultimately require additional research on this fascinating topic, for the purposes of this thesis, I will be comparing two prehistoric parietal art sites: the petroglyphs and pictographs of Columbia Hills State Park in Washington state and Cueva de las Manos in Santa Cruz, Argentina using an intersectional approach with descriptive, semiotic, contextual, phenomenological and heritage management components. This collective approach will allow us to explore the meaning(s) of these works, the roles they may have played in expressing emotion, and a general approach to examining rock art in many contexts. With my background as a psychiatrist trained in furthering mental health and the treatment of mental illness, my phenomenological observations of both sites provide a unique view on how both sites may be experienced by present-day populations. While we may never be able to fully understand the meaning and emotion expressed by prehistoric parietal art, this intersectional approach is proposed as a standardized way for future enthusiasts to systemically study previously uncovered and as-yet-to-be discovered artworks left by early humans.