Analysis of Handprints on Cave Walls in Indonesia Reveals Distinct Roles for Men and Women in Artistic Labor
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Handprints in the Cave |
Experts from the French National Center for Scientific Research have investigated the remaining handprints in Gua Masri II Cave in Indonesia, using a computer model to determine which prints belong to men and which belong to women.
They found clusters of male handprints in certain areas, while female handprints were located in different regions.
“This discovery supports the hypothesis that prehistoric men engaged in separate activities from women,” stated Jean-Michel Chazine from the Center for Oceanic Research (Credo) in France. “These results demonstrate that the role of women was much more significant than previously thought.”
The new software is based on the principle that the sex of the hand’s owner can be determined by the ratio between the ring finger and the index finger. In women, these two fingers are nearly equal in length, whereas there is a significant difference in men.
The two Gua Masri caves, located in the highlands of Borneo, contain hundreds of handprints dated between 8,000 and 20,000 years old.
M.T. (according to AFP)
