Bradshaw Foundation

Journey of Mankind - iLecture Film

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:17:03 +0000

In conjunction with the Journey of Mankind Genetic Map, the Bradshaw Foundation now presents the first in a series of iLecture films which explore the most important migration made by mankind. Together with Professor Stephen Oppenheimer we look in depth at the Journey of Mankind and investigate how modern science has helped shed light on this monumental exodus.

The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Temples of Malta

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:52:50 +0000

The first inhabitants of Malta left no writing behind them, only elaborate, sophisticated and unprecedented stone structures in the form of temples. These temples, requiring extensive resources, were clearly an integral element of their culture. Found within the temples are stylized sculptures of figurines. The early settlers worshipped a 'mother goddess' whose type is known from early statuettes found scattered around the Mediterranean.

See how the story of prehistoric Malta draws striking parallels to both the 'restricted' experience of the Palaeolithic caves of Europe as well as the mystery of once great civilizations such as that of Easter Island.

New Film - San Rock Art of South Africa

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:38:38 +0000

The Drakensberg Mountains of southern Africa are home to not only some of the world's oldest rock art paintings, but also one of the worlds oldest cultures - the San Bushman. The fascinating relationship between the people and their art is revealed as one of the most famous rock art panels is decoded.

Issue #49 of INORA The International Newsletter on Rock Art - Now Aavailable

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:03:02 +0000

Latest Issue of INORA The International Newsletter On Rock Art. Visit the INORA Online archive containing past issues of INORA.

The Red Lady of Paviland

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:00:05 +0000

The oldest known buried remains in Britain are 29,000 years old, 4,000 years older than previously thought. The findings show that ceremonial burials were taking place in Western Europe much earlier than researchers had believed.

Discovery of Rock Art in Nicaragua - Cueva La Conga

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:35:44 +0100

Cueva La Conga is the first limestone cave containing prehistoric paintings, modified speleothems, and artifacts recorded in Nicaragua. Its location in the east central part of the Department of Jinotega is also the farthest south of any such cave yet reported in the Mesoamerican periphery. Suzanne M. Baker is currently leading the Cueva La Conga project, a rock art recording project in northern Nicaragua, begun in 2006.

Rock Art of Bolivia

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:52:24 +0100

Rock art research in Bolivia is still in its initial stages, if we consider the lack of an exact chronology and the lack of intensive investigations in many regions. There is very limited state funding for investigations of the country's rich archaeological heritage, so it is left to a private scientific institution, Sociedad de Investigacion del Arte Rupestre de Bolivia (SIARB) to register, record and publish rock art sites. SIARB was founded in 1987. The society numbers some 150 members in Bolivia as well as world-wide.

Pecos Experience: The Art and Archeology of the Lower Pecos

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:39:03 +0100

In 2006 Dr. Jean Clottes was invited by the resident archaeologist Dr Carolyn Boyd, to study the rock art of the Lower Pecos in Texas. He described the paintings and petroglyphs as "second to none, and ranking among the top bodies of rock art anywhere in the world." Dr Carolyn Boyd is the Executive Director of the Shumla School, the organisation initiated to study and preserve the ancient rock art of the Lower Pecos River. The Shumla School is now offering courses to study the work in this region.

The Origins Centre of Johannesburg, South Africa

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:31:53 +0100

In June 2007 the Bradshaw Foundation visited the Origins Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Damon de Laszlo, Chairman of the Bradshaw Foundation, and its Editor, Peter Robinson, flew to South Africa to meet Dr. Ben Smith, Director of the Rock Art Research Institute [RARI] and a member of the Bradshaw Foundation's Advisory Board. The purpose of the field trip was to gather material for our latest iLecture film on San rock art. In so doing, we were offered the opportunity and privilege to visit the recently opened Origins Centre - one of the world's finest museums of archaeology and anthropology.

Stonehenge

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:25:44 +0100

Stonehenge is one of the world's most iconic images, but have you ever wondered why this megalithic monument was built? Journey back to the Neolithic period of prehistory 5000 years ago and observe society changing from hunting and gathering to farming, from the collective tribe to the powerful individual. Agriculture may have freed up this society from the uncertainties of hunting, but it came at a price - a clear time-frame of the seasons was now required, possible only with a keen understanding of astrology/astronomy.

Reflections on Chauvet

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:36:32 +0100

In the latest iLecture Documentary Film, the Bradshaw Foundation talk to Dr Jill Cook about her personal reaction to the recent visit to Chauvet Cave in France with Dr Jean Clottes, and the experience of viewing the world's oldest art.

Dr Jean Clottes honoured by the Blue Tuareg people

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:31:44 +0100

It is with great excitement that we report that Dr Jean Clottes who, as everyone knows, has been a major contributor to the understanding of Rock Art around the world, has been honoured by the Blue Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert.

Hand Paintings in Rock Art

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:34:56 +0100

Hand paintings are depicted in Rock Art around the world. The hand image would have been created in a variety of ways: the artist may have used the hand on the rock as a stencil, spraying paint from the mouth or charcoal powder through a reed; the outline of the hand may have been painted around by brush; or simply painting the hand and then placing it on the rock.What ever the method, and what ever the style of accompanying art, hand paintings are one of the most common elements of rock art.

New Cave Paintings Discovered in Tapti Valley, India

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:20:01 +0100

The caves are located high up in the sandstone hills of the Satpura Range. The first cave discovered is north-facing, in good condition and has more than 50 paintings, comprising mainly of animal figures such as deer, samber, rhinos, wild dogs, bulls, a bison, a tiger, and interestingly a long-necked animal resembling a giraffe. The stags have been painted with very prominent long antlers.

Petroglyphs in Panama: The Monkey Stone of Darien Gap

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:19:30 +0100

"Daniel confided in me that he had a secret known only to a few in his Embera tribe. He described a place deep in their jungle territory, in a different watershed than our first expedition, which outsiders much less foreigners had never visited. It was a massive sacred rock decorated with intricate petroglyphs, pre-historic rock carvings etched by Daniel's ancestors hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago."

Ivory carving pushes back date of Modern Man's venture into Europe

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:18:47 +0100

The evidence consists of stone, bone and ivory tools discovered under a layer of ancient volcanic ash on the Don River in Russia some 250 miles south of Moscow, said John Hoffecker, a fellow of CU-Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. Thought to contain the earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe, the site also has yielded perforated shell ornaments and a carved piece of mammoth ivory that appears to be the head of a small human figurine, which may represent the earliest piece of figurative art in the world, he said.

iLectures Launch

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:49:21 +0000

We are pleased to announce the launch of iLectures – the first series of documentary films, in association with Boilerplate Productions, exploring prehistory and ancient rock art.

iLectures - click here to watch