Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Humans have been creating artistic images of their environment for tens of thousands of years, but weirdly missing from all their cave art and carvings is a pretty obvious omission - the human face. Today we look at the mystery of why Paleolithic humans never drew human faces, and search for the first confirmed image ever created of a human face.

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LINKS LINKS LINKS
https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/lascaux/en/lascaux-cave-virtual-visit
ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/venus-of-brassempouy-0010217
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Hohle_Fels
dailyartmagazine.com/prehistoric-sculpture
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf
ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/mask-warka-0019266
dailyartmagazine.com/prehistoric-sculpture
science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd4648
history.com/news/prehistoric-cave-paintings-early-humans
bradshawfoundation.com/news/index.php?id=Chauvet-s-scarcity-of-human-figures
metmuseum.org/toah/hd/lasc/hd_lasc.htm
youtube.com/watch?v=pZcXcqVtt8A&t=882s
ancientpages.com/2020/09/14/are-the-baffling-la-marche-cave-paintings-authentic-or-cunning-forgeries
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2016/03/top-7-aboriginal-rock-art-sites/
reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/rwotlt/why_were_depictions_of_human_faces_so_rare_in
historytools.org/stories/uncovering-the-mysteries-of-prehistoric-cave-paintings-a-historians-perspective
https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/indigenous-cultural-protocols-what-the-media-needs-to-do-when-depicting-deceased-persons/97xq2otnt
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_Mesopotamia
britannica.com/art/Egyptian-art/Pyramid-of-Khufu
worldhistory.org/Chinese_Art
earthlymission.com/faiyum-mummy-portraits-oldest-portrayals-human-face-roman-egypt-2000-years-ago
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doln%C3%AD_V%C4%9Bstonice_%28archaeological_site%29#interpretation
theguardian.com/science/2013/jan/24/ice-age-art-british-museum
mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/face-oldest-known-human-being-33060532
https://ground.news/article/tech-industry-titans-meet-with-white-house-officials-to-discuss-ai-energy-needs_84bb9c

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
2:16 - A Pre-Historic Venus
6:57 - A Survey of Cave Art
10:06 - Education, Ritual, Storytelling
14:50 - The Power of Portraits
17:33 - Why Are Faces Important Now?
19:17 - Tangent Cam
24:32 - Sponsor - Ground News