Steinbearbeitung als ein Ausgangspunkt der kulturellen Evolution

Steinbearbeitung als ein Ausgangspunkt der kulturellen Evolution

Benjamin Bembé
Jahrbuch für Goetheanismus 2025, 2025, P.121-169 | DOI: 10.18756/jfg.2025.121
evolution | Language: German | €6
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Abstract:

The first part of this study deals with the formation of the first stone artifacts in the Palaeolithic period, beginning a good 3.3 million years ago. In addition, suspected links to brain development and the development of language in this early period are shown. The range of forms of the various artifacts is briefly mentioned, their presumed producers are named and the cognitive prerequisites for the production of such artifacts are discussed. Today, the rela-
tionships between tool production, tool use and the fine motor skills of the hand are seen as key factors in this process. These in turn appear to be closely linked to the emergence of language, which has accompanied these innovations and the underlying learning processes. Numerous
interactions between these achievements are seen as the basis of these evolutionary steps. In the second part, the study looks specifically at the typical form, the long tradition and
the worldwide distribution of handaxes. These best-known of all artifacts were produced by humans over a period of around 1.9 million years and they still pose numerous questions today, which is why they are also referred to as handaxe enigma. A veritable struggle for the first aesthetics can be observed in them. An increasing number of archaeologists see them not only as the first pre-forms of art, but also as the earliest works of art in human history. For example, some of them contain the proportions of the golden ratio. Furthermore, it is explained and justified why the handaxe can also be regarded as the earliest image of man. In addition to other undisputed functions, it is thus also attributed a symbolic meaning, which in turn can
be seen as a key feature for the emergence of language, art and culture.

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