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Thanks for the response.

Sure, we simply haven't found earlier evidence.

Or, alternatively, guys from outerspace did the drawings, or..... there are many, many possibilities. At the moment, though, we have only this cave.

I objected to the comment re:

Art hit the ground running. There appear to be no amateur, tenative, halting steps ~ there was no art, and then there was.
This is a result of some sort of genetic change that occurred in Europe first.

Given the scarcity of the ancient rock art, I think its a little early (no pun intended) to make any firm statements on the course of its development.

What would you posit for a genetic change? We have modern humans some 160k or more years ago. I know there were two groups in this part of Europe at some 30k. What are you thinking for the genetic change.

I may have to answer in the AM.

Coyote

There's even a change in the way spearpoints are manufactured circa 35,000 BC.

It has to do with the linkage between the motor centers and the visual cortex. I suspect "dance" has a comparable gene set, although different. Notice that top level dancers in every society appear to have a sense of position similar to that of top level basketball players. Not all of us have that ~ actually, almost none of us do.

Then there are the musicians ~