Birth of primitive art 12 ： People who made first fine arts １

＜　a reconstruction of Dolni Vestonice ruin, Czech Republi, about 29000 years ago, by Don’s Maps

　＞

From now on, we will explore the meaning and mystery at the birth of primitive arts.

First, we first approach people who made origin fine arts.

It will clarify the reason that people made art bloom on this place and at this time.

This time, it shows the situation in which human beings had been deploying to each continent.

これからは原初美術誕生の意味と謎を探ります。

原初美術を誕生させた人々に迫ります。

人々が、なぜこの地に、またこの時期に芸術を開花させたのかを明らかにします。

今回は、現世人類の各大陸への展開を追います。

＜　Journey of human beings  ＞

 The map shows the situation in which human beings deployed to each continent.

The lines and the arrows show the representative root and each initial period.

The map simplified ”JOURNEY OF MANKIND” (with Bradshaw Foundation and 0ppenheimer).

Human beings branched from the ancestor of the chimpanzee about 5 million years ago in Africa, and as new species of it were born any number of times after that, but almost became extinct.

About 40,000 years ago, modern humans (Cro-Magnon) went into Europe.

Soon, Neanderthal that was indigenous inhabitants became extinct.

It is presupposed by archaeological proof that the author of the primitive arts in Europe was Cro-Magnon mostly.

地図は、我らの直系の祖先（現世人類）が、世界各地に移住していった様子を示す。

線と矢印は最初期の移動時期と代表的な経路を、数値は千年前を示す。

この図はJOURNEY OF MANKIND (Bradshaw Foundationと0ppenheimer氏製作)を簡略化したものです。

我々人類は約５００万年前にチンパンジーの祖先からアフリカで分岐し、その後、幾度も新しい種が誕生しては絶滅していった。

現世人類（クロマニヨン人）は約４万年前、ヨーロッパに進入して来ると、先住のネアンデルタール人は絶滅した。

ヨーロッパの原初美術の担い手は、考古学的な証拠により、ほぼクロマニヨン人だとされている。

＜　Transition of the average temperature during 160,000 years　＞

The time when human beings immigrated to each continent was influenced by climate.

The general lowering of sea level by the cooling enabled that they go into Asia, Australia and next Japan, and North American continent.

Conversely, the warming changed desert and ice sheet into prairie, and it enabled that they go into Europe, next Northern Europe, and Africa and South American continent.

This is one of the reasons that the commencing time of the primitive arts have varied.

Growth and decay of the fine arts in Europe was influenced by climate.

The statue of Venus was made in large numbers from 32000 to 25000 years ago. Wonderful cave mural paintings, such as Lascaux and Altamira, were made from 19000 to 15000 years ago.

Ice sheet expanded most between both the periods in 21000 years ago.

When warming advanced rapidly, the fine arts declined quickly, and it had been lost until the Celtic bronze ware culture began.

人類が各大陸へ移住した時期は気候に左右された。

寒冷化による海面低下は、アジアやオーストラリア、後の日本やアメリカ大陸への進入を可能にした。

また温暖化は、砂漠や氷床を草原に変え、ヨーロッパへの進入、後の北欧進入、アフリカとアメリカ大陸南下を可能にした。

このことが原初美術の開始時期にバラツキが出た理由の一つです。

またヨーロッパの美術の興隆は気候に左右された。

ビーナス像が３２～２５千年前に大量に造られた。ラスコーやアルタミラ等のすばらしい洞窟壁画は１９～１５千年前に造られた。氷床は21000年前, 両期間の間で最も広がりました。

その後、温暖化が急激に進行すると美術は急速に衰え、ケルトの青銅器文化が始まるまで消えたままだった。

＜　Vegetation of the last glacial maximum LGM (21,000 years ago), by PNAS ＞

Central Europe of this period was covered with snow and ice in winter, and grass in summer.

Africa and India were dry than now.

The northwestern part (Kimberley neighborhood) of Australia approximated to Southeast Asia across a strait, also was forests.

 also had the neighborhood and a across and a strait.

The northwestern part (Kimberley neighborhood) of Australia approximated to Southeast Asia across a strait, also was forests.

Japan was connected with the continent in part and was covered with the forest than now.

Human beings were not able to go south, because North America was covered with the glacier.

The period before and behind this became a little warm and human beings became easy to live and migrate.

In this way, the primitive fine arts flowered at the migrated place.

Next time, we will look at the life of Cro-Magnon man in Europe, and some factor of birth of fine arts also.

この極寒期の中央ヨーロッパは、冬に氷雪、そして夏に草に覆われた。

アフリカとインドは今より乾燥していた。

オーストラリアの北西部（キンバリー辺り）は東南アジアと海峡を挟んで近く、森林もあった。

日本は大陸と一部繋がっており、今より森林に覆われていた。

北アメリカは氷河で覆われており、人類は南進することが出来なかった。

この前後の期間は少し温暖で、人類は移動と生活がしやすかった。

こうして、原初美術はその移住先で花開くことになった。

次回は、ヨーロッパのクロマニヨン人の生活ぶりを見て、美術誕生の要因を探ります。

Birth of primitive art 11 : primitive arts of American continent

＜　map No.2, stone colossal head, 176cm in height, Mexico, about 3200 years ago　＞

This time, it is last to introduce primitive arts over the world.

I take a brief look at the oldest fine arts in American continent and the beginning of Inca and Mayan civilization.

今回で、世界各地の原初美術を紹介する最後となります。

南北アメリカの最古の美術からマヤ・インカ文明の始まりまでを概観します。

 ＜　American continent, area of the oldest fine arts are red 1, 4.  area of ancient civilization are yellow. No. 2 shows Mayan and Aztec. No.3. shows Inca.　＞

Human beings advance into American continent at first time by way of Alaska about 15000 years ago.

They arrived at the southernmost end of South America after thousands years.

Therefore, the footprint of the human beings in this continent will become comparatively new.

人類はアラスカ経由で１５０００年前頃にアメリカに初めて進入し、南米南端に到達するには更に数千年を要しました。

したがってこの大陸での人類の足跡は比較的新しいものになります。

 ＜　map No.4, Toquepala cave ruin, about 9500 years ago, Peru ＞

The oldest rock art in American continent is the mural painting in this cave.

This cave is in the middle of the Andes, and the altitude of 2700 m.

The picture shows a situation of hunting that some people drive the animals like camel into a fence.

The picture was drawn with pigment of red, yellow, green, black, and white.

アメリカ最古のロックアートは、この洞窟の壁画です。

この洞窟はアンデス山脈の中腹、標高２７００ｍにあります。

絵には、集団でラクダ科の動物を柵に追い込む狩りの様子が描かれている。

この写真は不鮮明ですが、赤、黄、緑、黒、白などの顔料で描かれています。

 ＜　the Andes can be seen in the distance.　＞

There is large plateau in the middle of the mountain range of the Andes at a level of 4000 meters.

First farming started in there after that, and Inca civilization was born.

Machu Picchu that is often called the city in the sky is slightly 200km from Toquepala cave. It is altitude of 2430 m.

4０００ｍの山々が連なるアンデス山脈の中程に高原があり、後にそこで最初の農耕が開始されインカ文明が生まれることになります。

空中都市マチュ・ピチュ（標高２４３０ｍ）はトケパラ洞窟からわずか２００ｋｍの所にあります。

 <  Map No.1, human figure and lizard, Coso rock art, Eastern California, from 10000 to 1000 years ago, by Bradshaw foundation  >

Rock arts in this area are close to 100,000.

The representational figures consist of animals such as bighorn sheep, and animal-human conflations.  They are drawn by sculpture.

この地域には１０万近い岩絵があります。

その代表的な図像はオオツノヒツジ等の動物と動物と人間が合成されたものです。シンボル化された人物像が彫刻によって描かれています。

＜　Map No.1, bards and deer, Baja California, by Bradshaw foundation  ＞

Rock arts of this area began to be drawn from about 7000 years ago, and the person and the animal were drawn.

この地域の岩絵は、古くは７０００年前頃のもので、人物と動物が描かれている。

　

＜　Map No.1, the above rock art was drawn on this rock shadow, Baja California, by Bradshaw foundation  ＞

Many of rock arts in North America are in mountain range, and it are many dried places now.

Hunter-gatherers drew them.

北米アメリカの岩絵の多くは山岳部で、現在は乾燥化している所も多い。

これらはすべて狩猟採集民が描いたのだろう。

The dawn of ancient civilization

before long、as a settled agriculture started in the central part of American continent and the central Andes, new fine arts was born.

A stone carving of infographic topping is representative art of Olmeca civilization that was first born in the central part of American continent.

Although earthenware, the clay figure, and the jade figure also were made in there, colossal head in stone is unique.

This stone colossal head was set up religious service center ruins including a pyramid.

Probably, it was a monument in which influence of a person of power was shown.

Then, it developed into Mayan and Aztec civilization.

古代文明の曙

やがてアメリカ大陸の中部と中央アンデスで定住農耕が始まると、新たな美術が誕生し始めます。

巻頭写真は中部アメリカ（メキシコ）の最初の文明、オルメカ文明の代表的な石彫です。

土器や土偶、翡翠製人物像も作られたが、巨大人頭像がユニークである。

この巨石人頭像はピラミッドを含む祭祀センター遺構内に据えられており、権力者の威光を示す記念碑だったのだろう。

この後、マヤ、アステカ文明へと変遷していくことになる。

 ＜　Map No.3, human figure and human head, 3m in high, Cerro Sechin, about 3800 years ago, Peru ＞

This ruin is one of the ruins that became a forerunner of the Inca civilization in the central Andes.

These images were engraved by lines on slates that surround the foundation of the shrine made from brick.

Although earthenware, the clay figures also were made in there, much later, gold work became very famous.

In this way, primitive fine arts in American continent developed into the fine arts of civilization.

From next time, we will look at the mystery and meaning of primitive fine arts birth that we have seen until now.

この遺跡は中央アンデスに興るインカ文明の先駆けになる遺跡の一つです。

これは煉瓦製神殿の基壇部を囲む石板に線刻された図像です。

土器、土偶も作られますが、かなり後に金細工が一世風靡することになります。

こうしてアメリカ大陸でも原初美術から文明の美術へと変遷を遂げて行きました。

次回から、今まで見てきた原初美術誕生の謎とその意味を読み解いて行きます。

Birth of primitive art 10 : primitive arts of East Asia

 

＜　flame-like earthenware, Niigata Prefecture, japan, About 5000 years ago　＞

This time, we look at primitive fine arts of Japan and China.

The characteristic fine arts will teach us the life of the primitive.

今回は、日本と中国の原初美術を見ます。

その特色ある美術から原初の暮らしが見えて来ます。

＜　left, The oldest clay figure, about 6cm in height, Ibaraki Prefecture, about 8000 years ago. right, a clay figure is called ” Venus” , Nagano Prefecture, 27cm in height, about 5000 years ago.　＞

The world’s first earthenware was made in Japanese Islands at 12000 years ago.

In those days the people settled in a place while they were hunting, gathering and fishing, because blessings of nature were rich.

It enabled manufacture of the earthenware and the clay figures.

The clay figures had continued to be made for about 8000 years, and it was over as wet-rice farming was popular.

Above-mentioned the oldest clay figure resembles the Venus image of about 15000 years ago in Siberia. ( refer to “Birth of primitive art 3”)

In the last half of this epoch, the characteristics of woman became to be inconspicuous from the clay figures.

And decoration and deformation became to be conspicuous.

Then realistic animal clay figures also became to be made.

Although the excavated clay figures totaled about 15000, these have damaged almost.

Perhaps, people broke them intentionally for the purpose of the prayer.

日本列島では１２０００前頃から世界で最初に土器が作られた。

当時、狩猟採集漁労生活ではあったが、山野の恵みが豊なことにより定住を行っていた。

このことが土器や土偶の製作を可能にし、土偶は約８０００年間作られ続け、水稲栽培が普及すると終焉を迎えた。

上述の最古の土偶は約１５０００年前のシベリア出土のビーナス像に似ている。（原初美術の誕生3：動産美術の展開に詳しい）

しかし縄文時代後半になると土偶の人物像は女性の特徴が目立たなくなり、装飾や強いデフォルメが目立つようになる。また写実的な動物像も作られるようになる。

その出土総数は１５０００体ほどあるが、大半が破損しており、祈祷目的で故意に壊したものらしい。

＜　big eyes clay figure, Aomori Prefecture, about 3000～2300 years ago　＞

This is one of clay figures in the last half of this epoch. Its eyes are emphasized.

これは後半の土偶の一つであるが、目が強調されている。

＜　the oldest kinds of earthenware　＞

Although earthenware was made for cooking, before long, its ornament became to be important.

A flame-like earthenware of infographic topping had appeared suddenly, and disappeared after about 1000 years.

This is considered to be a thing for not daily necessities but religious service.

土器は煮炊き用に製作されたが、やがて装飾が重視されるようなった。

巻頭写真の火焔土器は突如として出現し、千年ほどで消えた。

これは実用品ではなく祭祀用のものと考えられる。

The feature of these fine arts

In primitive fine arts of Japan, there are neither realistic drawing nor life scenes almost.

Of course, there is neither cave mural paintings nor big lock arts.

Probably, the reason depends to a large extent on the settled life and hunting small animals and gathering nuts.

The clay figures and earthenware that was made of clay were in close contact with their lives.

While every locations interplay, these fine arts grew on the whole in Japan islands. Those days, a royal power did not exist.

この美術の特徴

日本では、写実的な描画や生活場面が描かれることはなかった。

もちろん洞窟壁画も大きなロックアートもない。

その理由は、小動物と木の実、遡上する魚などに依存する狩猟採集と定住生活が大きく影響したのでしょう。

材料がすべて粘土である土偶や土器は、生活と共にあった。

各地が交流しながら、この美術は列島全体で発展していった。当時、王権は存在していなかった。

What place was Japanese Island that developed these?

The places where typical clay figures and earthenware were made are Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture, and there are at the center of the Japanese Islands.

これらを育んだ日本列島はどのような所だったのか。

代表的な土偶や土器が作られた場所は長野県や新潟県で、日本列島の中心にある。

＜ a clay figure of ” Venus” was excavated on this plateau area. Nagano Prefecture　＞

People in those days also lived on the vast brush or the foot of the mountains.

当時の人々も、この変わらぬ山野で暮らした。

＜　a reproduction of house in those days　＞

People in those days lived in this like thatched hut by one family.

One village consisted of from some families to hundreds of persons.

当時の人々は、家族単位で、この草葺き小屋に住み、数家族以上、最大は数百名が暮らす村もあった。

Primitive fine arts of China.

Chinese earthenware was made at the same time as wet rice culture started 10,000 years ago.

A little late, the female clay figure was also made.

中国の原初美術

中国の土器は水稲栽培が1万年前に始まったのと同時に作られ始め、少し遅れて女性の土偶も作られた。

＜　left, earthenware was pictured with fish images, about 7000 years ago, middle reach of the Hwang.  Right, a figure of jade, about 8.6 cm in high, lower reach of Chang Jiang, about 5500 years ago　＞

The surface of this earthenware was pictured with fish images, hoping to be plentiful.

This figure is burial goods and was sewn to religious leader clothing.

After that, in China, products of jade and the bronze ware that began from the second 

millennium B.C., became the gorgeous mainstream of fine arts．

Thus, in East Asia, primitive arts that are a different from other areas was born.

Next time, we look at the fine arts in American continent.

これら彩陶の表面には多産の祈りを込めて魚が多く描かれた。

この人物像は副葬品で、宗教的指導者の衣類に縫いつけられていたらしい。

この後、中国では玉製品と紀元前２千年期に始まる青銅器が美術の華やかな主流になっていく。

このようにして東アジアでは、他地域とは少し異なる原初美術が生まれた。

次回はアメリカ大陸の美術を見ます。

Birth of primitive art ９: primitive arts other than Europe ２

＜　a rock art in Bhimbetka, two fighters have a shield and a sword ＞

This time, we look at primitive fine arts in India and Australian.

＜　a map of primitive fine arts、fine arts of glacial epoch were born in a red part, other primitive fine arts were born in No. 1～７.　＞

＜　map No.3, Bhimbetka hills in India Central Highlands　＞

In Bhimbetka hills,ｔhere are about three hundred of Rock Shelters that have mural paintings.

Its oldest fine arts were drawn in about 10,000 years ago. After that, it had been continuously drawn by indigenous people.

Some people say that there were the fine arts from about 30,000 years ago.

There were traces of early human activity in these ruins also.

Footprints of modern human in 75000 years ago were in southern India.

ビーマベトカ山には、壁画がある岩陰や洞窟遺跡が３百ヵ所ほど見つかっている。

概ね１万年前から描かれ、後に先住民によって描き加えらえた。

一部には3万年前の絵もあると言われている。

この遺跡には原人の生活跡もある。インド南部には75000年前の現世人類の足跡がある。

 

＜　two rock arts are thought of as a kind of the oldest thing in Bhimbetka.　＞

Upper image shows that a cow 1.6 m in length, the cow that is ousting a man, other man who put a hand on his waist, and thinly a crab on the left.

Lower image shows humped cattle.

The pictures of these oldest stages drew many big animals, for example a water buffalo, a cow, an elephant, etc., but almost never drew figure paintings.

The images were drawn with only outline or were buried by geometric pattern inside the outline.

The figure paintings were stylized simply, although the animal images were quite realistic.

Over the time, people drew person ride horse or elephant, battling by bow and spear, tinseled horse or elephant, dancing while beating drum, honeybee collection, and fishing.

上図には、長さ１．６ｍの牛、牛に追われ走る人、腰に手をあてる人、左に蟹が薄く見える。下図にはこぶ牛が見える。

これら初期の絵は、水牛、牛、象などを輪郭やその内側を幾何学模様で埋めた大きな動物像が多く、人物像はほとんどなかった。

動物はかなり写実的であるが、人物は様式化されている。

時代が下ると、馬や象の騎乗、弓矢や槍などでの戦い、盛飾を付けた馬や象、太鼓を打って舞踊、蜜蜂採集、漁労が描かれる。

＜　map No.4, Bradshaw in northwest Australia, mural paintings are in such rock shadow　＞

There are the oldest rock paintings of Australia in Kimberley of northwest Australia. It is supposed that there are 100,000 places or more.

Its oldest fine arts were drawn over 17,000 years ago. After that, it had been continuously drawn.

Some people say that there were the fine arts from about 43,000 years ago.

First modern human of Australia crossed the Timor strait that became to narrow at the glacial epoch in about 70,000 years ago.

オーストリア西北部のキンバリーにオーストラリア最古の岩壁画があり、１０万以上あると推測されている。

最古のその美術は１７０００年前から描かれ、その後も描き続けられた。

一部には４３０００年前の絵もあると言われている。

オーストラリアの最初の現世人類は、７万年前頃の氷河期、狭くなっていたティモール海峡を渡った。

 

 

＜　two rock arts were thought of as a kind of the oldest thing in Bradshaw. ＞

Upper image shows a four man canoe with upswept prow and stern. It possibly was the world’s oldest boat painting.

Lower image shows a herd of deer with splendid antler that lined in a row.

Deer of this kind have never lived in Australia, but had lived in Southeast Asia at the glacial epoch.

The people who finished the voyage possibly wrote it depending on own memory.

上図、これはおそらく世界最古のボートである可能性がある、４人が乗ったカヌーの船首と船尾は上向きに反っている。

下図、これは立派な枝角を持つ鹿の1列に並んだ群れで、この種の鹿はオーストラリアにはおらず、氷河期の東南アジアに生息していた。

航海を成し遂げた人が記憶に頼って書いたのかもしれない。

 

＜　a rock art of dancing persons in Bradshaw　＞

They wear various decorations to waist, ankle, and head, are dancing while wriggling body and arm.

It seems that the smiling face of dancing person is seen.

In India and Australia, drawing mural painting is beginning from 10000 to 20000 years ago, too.

It is not improbable that is beginning from 30000 to 40000 years ago depending on the case.

Next time, we will look at primitive fine arts in Japan and American.

  

腰、足首、頭に飾りを着け、体や腕をくねらせ踊っている。

踊り手の笑顔が伝わってくるようである。

インド、オーストラリアでも１～２万年前に壁画が描かれ始めていた。場合によっては３～４万年前もありうる。

次回は、日本とアメリカ大陸の原初美術を見ます。