: The book examines whether art is an inherent part of human nature, showing that even early ancestors—possibly including Neanderthals—possessed the capacity for symbolic thought and aesthetic creation.

: It documents the discovery of early paint palettes, such as those found in Blombos Cave in South Africa, which date back roughly 100,000 years.

: The authors demonstrate that art emerged independently across various continents, including Africa, Asia, and Australia, rather than spreading from a single European "cradle".

The First Artists: In Search of the World’s Oldest Art , co-authored by prehistorians Paul Bahn and Michel Lorblanchet, provides a global survey of the earliest known human artistic expressions. The book challenges traditional "Eurocentric" views that suggest art originated solely in Europe (such as the Franco-Spanish cave paintings), arguing instead that the artistic impulse developed universally as the human mind evolved. Key Themes and Insights

: Beyond famous cave murals, the text explores "natural curiosities" like the Makapansgat cobble , a stone naturally weathered to look like a face that was collected by early hominins three million years ago.

: The authors argue that art generally evolved from simple aesthetic activities, such as creating symmetry or cup-marks (cupules), toward more complex figurative representations seen in the late Upper Paleolithic. Significant Archaeological Sites Mentioned The First Artists: In Search of the World's Oldest Art