Francesco d’ Errico (University of Bordeaux & Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour,
Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion
University of Bergen) will address the topic “Key transitions in the culturalisation of the human body” in the framework of the Palaeolithic Seminar series.
What makes us human? One answer lies in how we shape and transform our bodies—
not just biologically but culturally. Across millennia, humans have imbued their bodies
with meaning through practices ranging from body painting, tattoos, and ornaments to
clothing and even permanent alterations like scarification or dental ablation and
shaping. These practices tell a rich story about our species’ identity and adaptability. In
this talk, I will explore how the culturalisation of the human body emerged and evolved
alongside our species. Drawing from cutting-edge research on human origins, I’ll
connect key moments in our evolutionary past with the rise of cultural practices that
defined us. Why did humans start using pigments for body painting? When did clothing
transition from a survival tool to a canvas for expression? And what do personal
ornaments reveal about our social lives and connections with Neanderthals and
Denisovans? Recent discoveries show that these transformative practices appeared at
least 160,000 years ago, becoming increasingly complex over time. Innovations like
clothing, personal ornaments, and pigments emerged in response to environmental
pressures but soon evolved into symbols of identity, community, and creativity. Join me
as we delve into this fascinating intersection of culture and evolution, exploring how
humans turned survival into art and utility into identity. Discover the story of how our
ancestors’ creative ingenuity shaped not only their bodies but the very essence of what
it means to be human.
Organized by prof. Nena Galanidou (University of Crete) and Dr. Andreas Darlas (Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology).