[mtbopfuyn]

Gaietto believes the sculpture is 200,000 years old, and would have been used in rituals.

Why does every discovery have to be sacred or related to rituals? Why can't it just be that BillyBob had nothing better to do than carve a face into a rock?

[sirchtruth]

Why can't it just be that BillyBob had nothing better to do than carve a face into a rock?

Are you kidding! BillyBob would have been way too busy trying to discover Budlite!

[RightWhale]

Why does every discovery have to be sacred or related to rituals?

Probably because almost everything we do is ritualistic.

[No Blue States]

I would bet even paleoman (10,000 yrs?) would have been preoccupied with making spears and killing meat, in between making a roof over his head, defending against invaders, and building a fire to cook his bison on..etc.. Making double headed rocks probably wasnt real high on the priority list.

thank goodness for electricity and bic lighters.

[thulldud]

Why does every discovery have to be sacred or related to rituals?

It's a ritual of another sort, peculiar to modern archaeologists.

[Junior]

I once read a spoof of future archaeologists recovering the remains of our civilization and thinking the toilet seat was a kind of ritual necklace.

You're right, though. If it can't be explained it's automatically a "ritual object." It could never be Thag's attempt to impress cave girls or anything like that...

[Inyo-Mono]

Why does every discovery have to be sacred or related to rituals? Why can't it just be that BillyBob had nothing better to do than carve a face into a rock?

Right on! That very thought crosses my mind every time I read about prehistoric man, which is frequently. I was a professional illustrator for many years and still spend much of my free time doodling. Doodling, drawing for pleasure, is how most artists hone their skills and I'm sure our ancestors did the same.