Lisboa, Sept.  4 – 9,  2006
WS 34 – Symbolism in Rock Art

SYMBOLISM IN ROCK ART

an introductory overview

Léo Dubal (Francia)  

 Strikingly similar Rock Art Symbols, painted or engraved,
 have been found all over the world.
Nevertheless…
a  comprehensive inventory
remains to be made.
Let us try to sketch such an inventory  
on the framework of 
three symbol classes

1.         iconical
2. artifactiform
3.         initiatic

1. Iconical symbols  


 stroke
Argentina / inca cueva 4 / photo Dubal

pubic triangle

France / Chauvet Portugal photo Dubal France/ Angles-sur-Anglin

hand 
China / Helanshan / photo Dubal 

                              ...polydactil

PolydactilismArgentina /Cueva de los manos / photo Dubal

             TANIT' s hand 
Tunisia/ Carthage / tactigraphy Dubal

foot…
Sweden / photo Dubal

…. horned head
China/ Beijing / photo Dubal

France / Grotte des 3 frères

El Toro paleolitico de Cheles 
Spain / rio Guadiana / photo Dubal

Italy / Valcamonica / tactigraphy Dubal Italy / Valcamonica photo Dubal

Peru / Qu'elcatani / photo Dubal
 
Lybia / Messak Mont Bégo photo Dubal

…. orants
Italy / Valcamonica / photo Dubal

France / Mont Bégo photo Dubal  Tunisia /Carthage / tactigraphy Dubal

 

2. artifactiform

shoe print
Norway / Lerfal / photo Dubal Italy/ Valcamonica photo Dubal

Appolo Mission

paddle
Taly / Valcamonica tactigraphy Dubal Italy / Valcamonica photo Dubal

arrow              metallic artifacts, 
Italy / Nadro / photo Dubal Italy / Capitello 2 pini / photo Dubal

horseshoe

 France/ Creyseilles / photo Dubal

 

3. "initiatic"  

 point  or  cupmark
Argentina / Rio Chulin photo Dubal

cruciform
France / La Gardette tactigraphy Dubal  Italy/ Naquane / photo Dubal France / Gardette tactigraphy Dubal

  yin-yang rose
Valcamonica photo Dubal Italy / Dos Sulif / photo Dubal

spirals
China Helanshan photo Dubal Siberia

concentric circles
Kanaka photo Dubal

Switzerland /Carshena photo Dubal  Cuba / Isla de la Juventud Cuba

labyrinthic womb
  Norway / Lerfal/ tactigraphy Dubal

 

disk...
Valcamonica / photo Dubal

Twyfelfontein /photo Dubal

...+ crescent
Tunisia Carthage/ tactigraphies Dubal Tunisia Carthage/ tactigraphy Dubal

Tunisia Carthage/ tactigraphy Dubal

 
Pitiüses 2005.10.03/08:50 UT ….. naked eye observation
Spain / annular solar eclipse

Irak  Carthage/ tactigraphy Dubal Tunisia Carthage/ tactigraphiy Dubal

time variation of sexual dominance symbol

Motya and Carthage (Lancel) gold brooches Sabine capture by Romans

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