Counting the Children: The Role of Children in the Production of Finger Flutings in Four U pper P alaeolithic Caves
Abstract
Summary: Children and young adults are believed to have represented up to 40 per cent of U pper P alaeolithic populations, yet little is known of their engagement in deep caves besides evidence of their hand and footprints. In this study we examine finger flutings, lines drawn with fingers in soft surfaces, in 12 F ranco‐C antabrian U pper P alaeolithic caves to look for forensic evidence of unique individuals. We find evidence of children as finger fluters in four caves (El C astillo, L as C himeneas, R ouffignac and G argas). We discuss the types, locations and frequency of their flutings, as well as the relationship between their flutings and those made by non‐children in the same caves and chambers. The small number of participants calls into question past theories of children's engagement in ritual and initiation in these particular caves.
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In Upper Paleolithic Europe, roughly between 40,000 and 12,000 BP, there is evidence of an evolution toward costly signaling.
“A third wave of evidence, which shows an evolution toward costly signaling, can be found in Upper Paleolithic (UP) Europe, roughly between 40,000 and 12,000 BP.”
From The Challenge of Evolution to Religion (2019) · cites this paper as Van Gelder, 2015
Children, adolescents, and adult men and women frequented these caves, as evidenced by handprints, footmarks, and finger flutings.
“Children, adolescents, and adult men and women frequented these caves, as can be seen in handprints, footmarks, and finger flutings (tracings of fingers along soft limestone walls) (Van Gelder, 2015).”
From The Challenge of Evolution to Religion (2019) · cites this paper as Van Gelder, 2015
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The Challenge of Evolution to Religion
De Smedt, J., & De Cruz, H. (2019) · Cambridge University Press · doi:10.1017/9781108685436 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Pointing and tracing enhance computer-based learning
Ginns, P., & King, V. (2021) · Educational Technology Research and Development · doi:10.1007/s11423-021-09997-0 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Ginns, P., Hu, F., & Bobis, J. (2020) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.3732 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
- Authors
- Van Gelder, L.
- Affiliations
- Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership Walden University Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Venue
- Oxford Journal of Archaeology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-04-02
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 119-138
- ISSN
- 0262-5253 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-0092
- OpenAlex
- W1870055606
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 18.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford Journal of Archaeology (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Walden University Faculty Research Initiative Grant
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Social Sciences › Archeology › Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Keywords
- children, Upper Palaeolithic, El Castillo, cave art, forensic identification
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