ANCESTORY

Prehistoric art “rocks” the world.

This book about rock and cave art around the world introduces children to masterpieces dating back millennia, allowing readers to appreciate unique specimens of ancient creativity and recognize human kinship with distant ancestors who “took the time to create.” The artwork, which relies on ceramic sculpture, photographs, colored pencil, charcoal, pigment, and digital media, teems with vivid images of paintings, drawings, and etchings. These include examples of rock art found all over the globe, with ages noted. Some are especially mesmerizing, presented as if in caves “illuminated” by lantern light, simulating flickering flames, akin to the conditions under which the art was made originally. Salyer makes intriguing points about these works as priceless repositories of history and culture. One example: Many animals depicted in rock and cave art no longer exist; examples of extinct creatures and when they died out are given. The illustrations highlight Indigenous peoples who may “still have distant familiarity with these ancient sites and stories.” The author raises questions about how and why our ancestors crafted their art: “Mapping the stars? Documenting the world around them?” Readers will also learn our forebears used all-natural materials, such as charcoal, ash, and malachite, and tools including flint, shells, and yucca stalks. Excellent explanatory backmatter concludes this fascinating book. Modern-day people are diverse; ancient people are seen in silhouette. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around.