TED Fellows Retreat 2015
Genevieve von Petzinger: Why are these 32 symbols found in ancient caves all over Europe?
吉纳维芙·冯·佩金格尔: 为何这32种符号出现在全欧洲的古代洞穴中？
Filmed:
Readability: 4.8
6,968,509 views
书面语言的发明是人类文明发展的里程碑；但它并非凭空出现。在完备的书面语言系统出现的几千年前，我们的祖先就在他们所居住的洞穴的岩壁上刻画下了各种几何符号。古人类学家、岩壁艺术研究者、TED高级研究员吉纳维芙·冯·佩金格尔对出现在欧洲洞穴中的古代符号进行了系统研究。其研究成果的一致性表明，图形交流以及人类跨越时间保存和传递信息的能力，其历史可能比我们想象的更为长久。
Genevieve von Petzinger - Paleoanthropologist and rock art researcher
Genevieve von Petzinger studies the geometric signs found in early European Ice Age rock art sites. Full bio
Genevieve von Petzinger studies the geometric signs found in early European Ice Age rock art sites. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
我要说一些关于洞穴的事——
00:12
There's something about caves --
0
760
1840
那些引人深入的
石灰岩峭壁上的阴暗开口。
石灰岩峭壁上的阴暗开口。
00:16
a shadowy opening in a limestone
cliff that draws you in.
cliff that draws you in.
1
4560
4280
00:21
As you pass through the portal
between light and dark,
between light and dark,
2
9800
3656
从明暗交界的入口处穿过，
你便进入了一个地底世界,
00:25
you enter a subterranean world --
3
13480
2535
那里永远昏暗，弥漫着泥土气息，
且异常安静。
且异常安静。
00:28
a place of perpetual gloom,
of earthy smells, of hushed silence.
of earthy smells, of hushed silence.
4
16040
5680
很久以前，在欧洲，
00:34
Long ago in Europe,
5
22800
1336
00:36
ancient people also entered
these underground worlds.
these underground worlds.
6
24160
3456
古代居民也进入过这些地底世界。
作为途经那里的见证，
00:39
As witness to their passage,
7
27640
1416
00:41
they left behind mysterious
engravings and paintings,
engravings and paintings,
8
29080
3655
他们留下了神秘的雕刻和图画，
比如西班牙欧赫加莱尼亚
这块岩壁上的人形、三角和折线。
这块岩壁上的人形、三角和折线。
00:44
like this panel of humans, triangles
and zigzags from Ojo Guareña in Spain.
and zigzags from Ojo Guareña in Spain.
9
32759
6561
00:52
You now walk the same path
as these early artists.
as these early artists.
10
40000
3160
你正走在这些早期艺术家走过的道路上。
00:55
And in this surreal, otherworldly place,
11
43800
3016
在这个超现实的地方，
你能够想象着自己
00:58
it's almost possible to imagine
12
46840
1896
01:00
that you hear the muffled footfall
of skin boots on soft earth,
of skin boots on soft earth,
13
48760
4536
听到了兽皮靴踏在柔软土地上
那隐约的脚步声，
那隐约的脚步声，
或者看到了下个转弯处忽隐忽现的火光。
01:05
or that you see the flickering of a torch
around the next bend.
around the next bend.
14
53320
3160
当我身处洞穴之中，
01:09
When I'm in a cave,
15
57600
1376
01:11
I often find myself wondering
what drove these people to go so deep
what drove these people to go so deep
16
59000
6096
我总会不由自主地猜想
是什么吸引人们到如此深处？
01:17
to brave dangerous and narrow
passageways to leave their mark?
passageways to leave their mark?
17
65120
3696
是什么让他们在如此危险且狭窄的通道里
留下记号？
留下记号？
01:20
In this video clip,
18
68840
1216
接下来的这段录像
01:22
that was shot half a kilometer,
or about a third of a mile, underground,
or about a third of a mile, underground,
19
70080
3376
拍摄于地下500米深处，
01:25
in the cave of Cudon in Spain,
20
73480
2136
位于西班牙古登的一个洞穴之中。
01:27
we found a series
of red paintings on a ceiling
of red paintings on a ceiling
21
75640
2456
我们在一个从未被探索的区域的洞顶
01:30
in a previously unexplored
section of the cave.
section of the cave.
22
78120
2936
发现了一系列红色的绘画。
01:33
As we crawled forward, military-style,
with the ceiling getting ever lower,
with the ceiling getting ever lower,
23
81080
4656
我们在洞中匍匐前进，
洞顶越压越低，
洞顶越压越低，
01:37
we finally got to a point
where the ceiling was so low
where the ceiling was so low
24
85760
3216
到最后，洞顶太低了，
我的丈夫兼摄影师戴伦
甚至无法用单反相机聚焦洞顶。
甚至无法用单反相机聚焦洞顶。
01:41
that my husband
and project photographer, Dylan,
and project photographer, Dylan,
25
89000
2256
01:43
could no longer achieve focus
on the ceiling with his DSLR camera.
on the ceiling with his DSLR camera.
26
91280
4136
01:47
So while he filmed me,
27
95440
1656
所以当他拍摄我的时候，
01:49
I kept following the trail of red paint
with a single light
with a single light
28
97120
3296
我只能带着单一光源
和一架为此准备的自动相机
和一架为此准备的自动相机
01:52
and a point-and-shoot camera
that we kept for that type of occasion.
that we kept for that type of occasion.
29
100440
3320
沿着红色绘画的路线移动。
01:57
Half a kilometer underground.
30
105680
1381
地下500米深处。
02:00
Seriously.
31
108480
1336
说真的，人们带着火把或石灯
到底来这里做什么呢？
到底来这里做什么呢？
02:01
What was somebody doing down there
with a torch or a stone lamp?
with a torch or a stone lamp?
32
109840
3000
02:04
(Laughter)
33
112864
1192
（笑声）
当然，我的情况还是可以理解的。
02:06
I mean -- me, it makes sense, right?
34
114080
1896
02:08
But you know,
35
116000
1216
我的研究就是要试图回答这类问题。
02:09
this is the kind of question that
I'm trying to answer with my research.
I'm trying to answer with my research.
36
117240
3816
02:13
I study some of the oldest
art in the world.
art in the world.
37
121080
2680
我研究几种世界上最古老的艺术。
02:16
It was created by these
early artists in Europe,
early artists in Europe,
38
124560
2296
一万至四万年前，
02:18
between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago.
39
126880
3080
欧洲早期的艺术家创造了它们。
我研究这些艺术并不仅仅因为其美感，
02:23
And the thing is
40
131480
1216
02:24
that I'm not just studying it
because it's beautiful,
because it's beautiful,
41
132720
2496
尽管某些作品确实非常美丽。
02:27
though some of it certainly is.
42
135240
1477
02:29
But what I'm interested in
is the development of the modern mind,
is the development of the modern mind,
43
137520
3976
我所感兴趣的，
是在人类独特性这一议题上，
是在人类独特性这一议题上，
现代思想的发展，
02:33
of the evolution of creativity,
of imagination, of abstract thought,
of imagination, of abstract thought,
44
141520
4936
以及人类创造力、想象力
和抽象思维的进化。
和抽象思维的进化。
02:38
about what it means to be human.
45
146480
2120
02:43
While all species communicate
in one way or another,
in one way or another,
46
151120
3176
尽管所有物种在不同程度上都进行交流，
但只有人类的交流上升到了更高的层次。
02:46
only we humans have really
taken it to another level.
taken it to another level.
47
154320
3576
02:49
Our desire and ability
to share and collaborate
to share and collaborate
48
157920
2576
对于分享及合作的诉求和能力
是人类能够成功的主要原因。
02:52
has been a huge part of our success story.
49
160520
2656
02:55
Our modern world is based on a global
network of information exchange
network of information exchange
50
163200
4816
现代社会建立于全球信息交流网络之上，
这在很大程度上得益于我们交流的能力，
03:00
made possible, in large part,
by our ability to communicate --
by our ability to communicate --
51
168040
4016
具体来说，
就是运用图画和文字交流的能力。
就是运用图画和文字交流的能力。
03:04
in particular, using graphic
or written forms of communication.
or written forms of communication.
52
172080
4000
03:08
The thing is, though,
53
176520
1256
然而，我们所倚赖的前人思想成就
有着太过久远的历史，
有着太过久远的历史，
03:09
that we've been building
on the mental achievements
on the mental achievements
54
177800
2536
03:12
of those that came before us for so long
55
180360
3056
以至于我们忘记这些能力并非与生俱来。
03:15
that it's easy to forget that certain
abilities haven't already existed.
abilities haven't already existed.
56
183440
4400
03:20
It's one of the things
I find most fascinating
I find most fascinating
57
188760
2376
在研究人类历史的过程中，
我所发现的最神奇的事情之一就是，
03:23
about studying our deep history.
58
191160
2576
03:25
Those people didn't have the shoulders
of any giants to stand on.
of any giants to stand on.
59
193760
4096
早期人类并没有巨人的肩膀可以站立。
他们自己就是巨人。
03:29
They were the original shoulders.
60
197880
2456
03:32
And while a surprising number
of important inventions
of important inventions
61
200360
2896
在那个久远的时代出现了大量重要的发明，
03:35
come out of that distant time,
62
203280
1896
今天我所要讲的是图形交流的诞生。
03:37
what I want to talk to you about today
is the invention of graphic communication.
is the invention of graphic communication.
63
205200
4680
03:42
There are three
main types of communication,
main types of communication,
64
210680
2176
交流有三种主要形式：
03:44
spoken, gestural --
so things like sign language --
so things like sign language --
65
212880
3376
语言，
动作——比如手语，
03:48
and graphic communication.
66
216280
2296
以及图形交流。
03:50
Spoken and gestural are
by their very nature ephemeral.
by their very nature ephemeral.
67
218600
3656
语言和动作交流转瞬即逝，
需要通过近距离接触来传递和接受信息。
03:54
It requires close contact
for a message to be sent and received.
for a message to be sent and received.
68
222280
3936
信息被传送后，便永远地消失了。
03:58
And after the moment
of transmission, it's gone forever.
of transmission, it's gone forever.
69
226240
3936
而图形交流却将传递和接收分离开来。
04:02
Graphic communication, on the other hand,
decouples that relationship.
decouples that relationship.
70
230200
3976
通过图形交流，
04:06
And with its invention,
it became possible for the first time
it became possible for the first time
71
234200
3976
信息第一次超越了时空中的某一瞬间，
04:10
for a message to be
transmitted and preserved
transmitted and preserved
72
238200
2856
04:13
beyond a single moment in place and time.
73
241080
3696
被传递和保存下来。
04:16
Europe is one of the first places
74
244800
1776
欧洲是最早发现图形记号的地区之一。
04:18
that we start to see graphic marks
regularly appearing
regularly appearing
75
246600
2696
这些记号通常被发现于洞穴和石隙中，
04:21
in caves, rock shelters
and even a few surviving open-air sites.
and even a few surviving open-air sites.
76
249320
4240
也有一些露天遗址被保存下来。
04:26
But this is not the Europe we know today.
77
254240
2536
但那时的欧洲和现在不同,
04:28
This was a world dominated
by towering ice sheets,
by towering ice sheets,
78
256800
2976
放眼望去都是三、四千米高的冰原，
04:31
three to four kilometers high,
79
259800
1976
覆盖着大片的草原或冰冻苔原。
04:33
with sweeping grass plains
and frozen tundra.
and frozen tundra.
80
261800
3256
04:37
This was the Ice Age.
81
265080
2040
那时正是冰川时期。
04:40
Over the last century,
82
268080
1296
在上个世纪，
全球有350多个冰川时期
岩石艺术遗址被发现。
岩石艺术遗址被发现。
04:41
more than 350 Ice Age rock art sites
have been found across the continent,
have been found across the continent,
83
269400
5296
04:46
decorated with animals, abstract shapes
and even the occasional human
and even the occasional human
84
274720
4376
岩石上雕刻着动物、抽象图形，甚至人类，
比如这些在西西里阿杜兰洞穴中的石刻。
04:51
like these engraved figures
from Grotta dell'Addaura in Sicily.
from Grotta dell'Addaura in Sicily.
85
279120
3616
我们能从中窥见
这些早期艺术家的创造力和想象力。
这些早期艺术家的创造力和想象力。
04:54
They provide us with a rare glimpse
86
282760
2056
04:56
into the creative world and imagination
of these early artists.
of these early artists.
87
284840
4080
这些石刻被发现后，
05:01
Since their discovery,
88
289840
1376
05:03
it's been the animals that have received
the majority of the study
the majority of the study
89
291240
3400
人们对其中的动物形象进行了大量研究，
05:07
like this black horse
from Cullalvera in Spain,
from Cullalvera in Spain,
90
295200
2560
比如这匹在西班牙库拉维拉被发现的黑马，
05:10
or this unusual purple bison
from La Pasiega.
from La Pasiega.
91
298400
3280
或是这只在拉帕西艾加
被发现的特别的紫色野牛。
被发现的特别的紫色野牛。
05:14
But for me, it was the abstract shapes,
what we call geometric signs,
what we call geometric signs,
92
302880
5376
然而，吸引我去研究这些艺术的，
是我们称为“几何符号”的抽象图形。
05:20
that drew me to study the art.
93
308280
1600
05:23
The funny this is that at most sites
94
311240
2296
有趣的是，在多数遗址中，
05:25
the geometric signs far outnumber
the animal and human images.
the animal and human images.
95
313560
4496
几何符号的数量
远远超过了动物和人类的形象。
远远超过了动物和人类的形象。
但在2007年我开始从事这项研究时，
05:30
But when I started on this back in 2007,
96
318080
3176
05:33
there wasn't even a definitive list
of how many shapes there were,
of how many shapes there were,
97
321280
3976
甚至没有一份关于这些几何符号的明确清单，
也没有人强烈地意识到
05:37
nor was there a strong sense
98
325280
1336
05:38
of whether the same ones
appeared across space or time.
appeared across space or time.
99
326640
2880
是否同样的符号
曾在不同的时间或地点存在过。
曾在不同的时间或地点存在过。
在着手研究我的问题之前，
05:44
Before I could even
get started on my questions,
get started on my questions,
100
332120
3096
05:47
my first step was to compile a database
101
335240
2096
我首先建立了一个数据库，
05:49
of all known geometric signs
from all of the rock art sites.
from all of the rock art sites.
102
337360
3896
包含了所有遗迹中
所发现的所有几何符号。
所发现的所有几何符号。
尽管某些遗迹对这些符号进行了很好的记录，
05:53
The problem was that while they were
well documented at some sites,
well documented at some sites,
103
341280
3576
05:56
usually the ones
with the very nice animals,
with the very nice animals,
104
344880
2296
通常是那些发现了漂亮动物图形的遗址，
05:59
there was also a large number of them
where it was very vague --
where it was very vague --
105
347200
3656
但相当数量的记录都非常模糊不清，
06:02
there wasn't a lot
of description or detail.
of description or detail.
106
350880
2256
缺失了大量描述和细节。
06:05
Some of them hadn't been visited
in half a century or more.
in half a century or more.
107
353160
3336
有些遗迹至少半个世纪无人问津了。
06:08
These were the ones
that I targeted for my field work.
that I targeted for my field work.
108
356520
3416
它们就是我实地调查的重点。
两年间，
06:11
Over the course of two years,
109
359960
1856
06:13
my faithful husband Dylan and I
each spent over 300 hours underground,
each spent over 300 hours underground,
110
361840
5216
我和我的丈夫戴伦
在地下呆了超过300小时，
在地下呆了超过300小时，
不断地行走、爬行、扭动着前进，
06:19
hiking, crawling and wriggling
around 52 sites
around 52 sites
111
367080
3976
走遍了法国、西班牙、葡萄牙
和西西里的52处遗迹。
和西西里的52处遗迹。
06:23
in France, Spain, Portugal and Sicily.
112
371080
2936
06:26
And it was totally worth it.
113
374040
1856
这些努力没有白费。
在75%的遗迹中，
我们发现了新的、未被记录的几何符号。
我们发现了新的、未被记录的几何符号。
06:27
We found new, undocumented geometric signs
at 75 percent of the sites we visited.
at 75 percent of the sites we visited.
114
375920
6736
我知道，如果想要研究那些更宏观的问题，
06:34
This is the level of accuracy
I knew I was going to need
I knew I was going to need
115
382680
2816
06:37
if I wanted to start answering
those larger questions.
those larger questions.
116
385520
3176
这样的准确程度是必需的。
那我们就来看看答案吧。
06:40
So let's get to those answers.
117
388720
2576
排除少量离群值，
一共只有32种几何符号。
一共只有32种几何符号。
06:43
Barring a handful of outliers,
there are only 32 geometric signs.
there are only 32 geometric signs.
118
391320
4616
跨越三万年的时间，遍布整个欧洲，
06:47
Only 32 signs
119
395960
1816
06:49
across a 30,000-year time span
and the entire continent of Europe.
and the entire continent of Europe.
120
397800
5480
只有32种。
06:55
That is a very small number.
121
403720
2576
这太少了。
06:58
Now, if these were random
doodles or decorations,
doodles or decorations,
122
406320
2456
如果这些符号是随意画下的，
应该会更多种多样，
07:00
we would expect to see
a lot more variation,
a lot more variation,
123
408800
2416
07:03
but instead what we find
are the same signs
are the same signs
124
411240
2416
然而，我们却看到同样的符号
07:05
repeating across both space and time.
125
413680
2440
在不同时间、不同地点被反复使用。
07:08
Some signs start out strong,
before losing popularity and vanishing,
before losing popularity and vanishing,
126
416920
3896
一些符号开始时被广泛应用，
后来逐渐消失；
后来逐渐消失；
另一些符号则后来居上。
07:12
while other signs are later inventions.
127
420840
2336
07:15
But 65 percent of those signs stayed
in use during that entire time period --
in use during that entire time period --
128
423200
5616
但是，65%的符号被一直沿用，
比如直线、长方形、三角形、椭圆形和圆形，
07:20
things like lines, rectangles
triangles, ovals and circles
triangles, ovals and circles
129
428840
4296
就像我们在比利牛斯山脉
这个有一万年历史的冰川后期遗迹中所看到的。
这个有一万年历史的冰川后期遗迹中所看到的。
07:25
like we see here
from the end of the Ice Age,
from the end of the Ice Age,
130
433160
2143
07:27
at a 10,000-year-old site
high in the Pyrenees Mountains.
high in the Pyrenees Mountains.
131
435327
3929
07:31
And while certain signs
span thousands of kilometers,
span thousands of kilometers,
132
439280
3216
某些符号使用地域极广，
07:34
other signs had much more
restricted distribution patterns,
restricted distribution patterns,
133
442520
2976
另一些符号的传播则遵循一定的规律，
07:37
with some being limited
to a single territory,
to a single territory,
134
445520
2416
有些甚至仅局限于单一地区。
比如我们看到的这些被分割的长方形，
07:39
like we see here
with these divided rectangles
with these divided rectangles
135
447960
2176
07:42
that are only found in northern Spain,
136
450160
2216
就只出现在西班牙北部地区；
07:44
and which some researchers have speculated
137
452400
2056
一些学者猜测，
07:46
could be some sort
of family or clan signs.
of family or clan signs.
138
454480
2320
它们可能是某个宗族的标志。
07:49
On a side note,
139
457880
1376
顺便说一下，
07:51
there is surprising degree
of similarity in the earliest rock art
of similarity in the earliest rock art
140
459280
3416
在法国和西班牙发现的早期岩壁艺术
07:54
found all the way from France and Spain
to Indonesia and Australia.
to Indonesia and Australia.
141
462720
4576
同在印度尼西亚和澳大利亚发现的岩壁艺术之间，
有着惊人的相似。
有着惊人的相似。
07:59
With many of the same signs
appearing in such far-flung places,
appearing in such far-flung places,
142
467320
4296
相同的符号出现于如此广泛的地域，
08:03
especially in that 30,000
to 40,000-year range,
to 40,000-year range,
143
471640
2976
而且都出现在三万到四万年前，
08:06
it's starting to seem increasingly likely
144
474640
2856
所以图形的发明极有可能
追溯到非洲大陆上某一个共同的起源。
追溯到非洲大陆上某一个共同的起源。
08:09
that this invention actually traces back
to a common point of origin in Africa.
to a common point of origin in Africa.
145
477520
4856
08:14
But that I'm afraid,
is a subject for a future talk.
is a subject for a future talk.
146
482400
2616
不过这是另一个话题了。
现在回到我们讨论的问题上来。
08:17
So back to the matter at hand.
147
485040
1816
08:18
There could be no doubt that these signs
were meaningful to their creators,
were meaningful to their creators,
148
486880
3976
这些符号对它们的创造者来说
无疑是有意义的，
无疑是有意义的，
比如这个有着25,000年历史的
08:22
like these 25,000-year-old
bas-relief sculptures
bas-relief sculptures
149
490880
2816
发现于法国拉洛克德韦纳斯克的浅浮雕。
08:25
from La Roque de Venasque in France.
150
493720
2616
08:28
We might not know what they meant,
but the people of the time certainly did.
but the people of the time certainly did.
151
496360
4400
我们或许不知道其意义，
但当时的人们肯定知道。
但当时的人们肯定知道。
08:33
The repetition of the same signs,
for so long, and at so many sites
for so long, and at so many sites
152
501760
6056
同样的符号在漫长时间
和广阔地域里重复出现，
和广阔地域里重复出现，
08:39
tells us that the artists
were making intentional choices.
were making intentional choices.
153
507840
3480
这说明艺术家们曾进行了有意的筛选。
08:43
If we're talking about geometric shapes,
154
511800
2376
说到有特定意义的、
被多种文化所认同的几何图形，
被多种文化所认同的几何图形，
08:46
with specific, culturally recognized,
agreed-upon meanings,
agreed-upon meanings,
155
514200
4736
08:50
than we could very well be looking
156
518960
1656
我们就要好好研究一下
世界上最古老的图形交流系统之一。
世界上最古老的图形交流系统之一。
08:52
at one of the oldest systems
of graphic communication in the world.
of graphic communication in the world.
157
520640
4536
我说的并不是文字系统。
08:57
I'm not talking about writing yet.
158
525200
1896
08:59
There's just not enough
characters at this point
characters at this point
159
527120
2336
在那个时候，还没有足够的字符
去表达口语中的所有词汇，
去表达口语中的所有词汇，
09:01
to have represented all of the words
in the spoken language,
in the spoken language,
160
529480
2856
也就无法建立一个完备的文字系统。
09:04
something which is a requirement
for a full writing system.
for a full writing system.
161
532360
2816
我们也不能将这些符号等同于字母，
09:07
Nor do we see the signs
repeating regularly enough
repeating regularly enough
162
535200
2376
因为它们的出现还不足够频繁。
09:09
to suggest that they were
some sort of alphabet.
some sort of alphabet.
163
537600
2656
09:12
But what we do have
are some intriguing one-offs,
are some intriguing one-offs,
164
540280
2816
但是我们看到了一些
非常有趣的“独一无二”，
非常有趣的“独一无二”，
比如发现于西班牙拉帕西亚加的
这块被称为“碑文”的岩壁。
这块被称为“碑文”的岩壁。
09:15
like this panel from La Pasiega in Spain,
known as "The Inscription,"
known as "The Inscription,"
165
543120
4576
它的左侧是对称图形，
09:19
with its symmetrical markings on the left,
166
547720
2536
09:22
possible stylized representations
of hands in the middle,
of hands in the middle,
167
550280
3216
中间的符号很可能代表双手，
右边的图形则很像半边括号。
09:25
and what looks a bit
like a bracket on the right.
like a bracket on the right.
168
553520
2320
09:29
The oldest systems of graphic
communication in the world --
communication in the world --
169
557080
2856
世界上最古老的图形交流系统，
09:31
Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs,
the earliest Chinese script,
the earliest Chinese script,
170
559960
4936
苏美尔楔形文字、埃及象形文字、
最早的中国文字，
最早的中国文字，
都出现于4000到5000年前，
09:36
all emerged between 4,000
and 5,000 years ago,
and 5,000 years ago,
171
564920
3576
而且每种文字的原型
都是更早期的计数符号和象形图画。
都是更早期的计数符号和象形图画。
09:40
with each coming into existence
from an earlier protosystem
from an earlier protosystem
172
568520
3136
09:43
made up of counting marks
and pictographic representations,
and pictographic representations,
173
571680
3536
所谓象形图画就是以图表意、图意同源，
09:47
where the meaning
and the image were the same.
and the image were the same.
174
575240
2376
09:49
So a picture of a bird would really
have represented that animal.
have represented that animal.
175
577640
4216
比如鸟的图画就是代表鸟这种动物。
09:53
It's only later that we start to see
these pictographs become more stylized,
these pictographs become more stylized,
176
581880
4736
后来这些象形图画才变得不那么写实，
09:58
until they almost become unrecognizable
177
586640
2336
直到无法辨识。
同时，人们发明了更多符号，
10:01
and that we also start to see
more symbols being invented
more symbols being invented
178
589000
3016
10:04
to represent all those other
missing words in language --
missing words in language --
179
592040
2896
用来代表语言中的其他词汇，
比如代词、副词和形容词。
10:06
things like pronouns, adverbs, adjectives.
180
594960
2120
10:10
So knowing all this,
181
598160
1536
根据已知的情况，
10:11
it seems highly unlikely that
the geometric signs from Ice Age Europe
the geometric signs from Ice Age Europe
182
599720
3856
我们认为在冰川时期欧洲诞生的这些几何符号
10:15
were truly abstract written characters.
183
603600
2696
几乎不可能是抽象的书写字符。
10:18
Instead, what's much more likely
184
606320
2216
它们更有可能是早期艺术家用以计数的符号。
10:20
is that these early artists
were also making counting marks,
were also making counting marks,
185
608560
3976
10:24
maybe like this row of lines
from Riparo di Za Minic in Sicily,
from Riparo di Za Minic in Sicily,
186
612560
4016
比如这些在西西里
扎米尼克岩石遮蔽处发现的线条。
扎米尼克岩石遮蔽处发现的线条。
当然，也可能是他们对周遭事物的抽象表达。
10:28
as well as creating
stylized representations
stylized representations
187
616600
2616
10:31
of things from the world around them.
188
619240
2496
10:33
Could some of the signs
be weaponry or housing?
be weaponry or housing?
189
621760
2616
这些符号有可能代表武器或房屋吗？
10:36
Or what about celestial objects
like star constellations?
like star constellations?
190
624400
4136
又或者是代表星座之类的天体？
也有可能代表河流、山川、树木等地貌特征。
10:40
Or maybe even rivers, mountains,
trees -- landscape features,
trees -- landscape features,
191
628560
4616
比如，这些在西班牙埃尔卡斯蒂约发现的
10:45
possibly like this black penniform
surrounded by strange bell-shaped signs
surrounded by strange bell-shaped signs
192
633200
4376
被奇怪的钟形符号环绕的
黑色羽毛状图形。
黑色羽毛状图形。
10:49
from the site of El Castillo in Spain.
193
637600
2576
10:52
The term penniform
means "feather-shaped" in Latin,
means "feather-shaped" in Latin,
194
640200
3296
“penniform”在拉丁语里就是“羽毛状”的意思。
但它是不是也有可能代表草木或树木？
10:55
but could this actually be
a depiction of a plant or a tree?
a depiction of a plant or a tree?
195
643520
3840
10:59
Some researchers have begun
to ask these questions
to ask these questions
196
647720
2976
一些学者已经着手研究
特定遗迹的某些特定符号，
特定遗迹的某些特定符号，
11:02
about certain signs at specific sites,
197
650720
2896
但我认为现在应该
从整体上审视这些符号的分类。
从整体上审视这些符号的分类。
11:05
but I believe the time has come
to revisit this category as a whole.
to revisit this category as a whole.
198
653640
4896
当然，讽刺的是，
11:10
The irony in all of this, of course,
199
658560
1736
我们把所有符号
都仔细地分入到了单一类别之中。
都仔细地分入到了单一类别之中。
11:12
is that having just carefully classified
all of the signs into a single category,
all of the signs into a single category,
200
660320
4296
我想我下一步要做的就是
11:16
I have a feeling that my next step
will involve breaking it back apart
will involve breaking it back apart
201
664640
3496
11:20
as different types of imagery
are identified and separated off.
are identified and separated off.
202
668160
4256
按照不同种类的意象将其重新划分。
11:24
Now don't get me wrong,
203
672440
1216
请不要误解我的意思，
11:25
the later creation
of fully developed writing
of fully developed writing
204
673680
2616
此后完备的文字系统的出现，
其本身就是一大创举。
11:28
was an impressive feat in its own right.
205
676320
2616
但是要知道，
11:30
But it's important to remember
206
678960
1456
11:32
that those early writing systems
didn't come out of a vacuum.
didn't come out of a vacuum.
207
680440
3296
那些早期文字体系并非凭空出现。
早在5000年前，
11:35
And that even 5,000 years ago,
208
683760
1976
人们就已经受荫于前人的创造了。
11:37
people were already building
on something much older,
on something much older,
209
685760
3336
11:41
with its origins stretching back
tens of thousands of years --
tens of thousands of years --
210
689120
3736
这些创造可追溯到千百万年前，
11:44
to the geometric signs
of Ice Age Europe and far beyond,
of Ice Age Europe and far beyond,
211
692880
4096
追溯到冰川时期欧洲的几何符号，乃至更早；
11:49
to that point, deep
in our collective history,
in our collective history,
212
697000
3296
在那个人类历史中遥远的瞬间，
某个人第一次想到要用图画来做标记，
11:52
when someone first came up with the idea
of making a graphic mark,
of making a graphic mark,
213
700320
4056
他自此永远地改变了人类交流方式的本质。
11:56
and forever changed the nature
of how we communicate.
of how we communicate.
214
704400
2936
谢谢。
11:59
Thank you.
215
707360
1216
（掌声）
12:00
(Applause)
216
708600
3440
Translated by Yan Ge
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Genevieve von Petzinger - Paleoanthropologist and rock art researcherGenevieve von Petzinger studies the geometric signs found in early European Ice Age rock art sites.
Why you should listen
Genevieve von Petzinger is a Canadian paleoanthropologist and rock art researcher finishing up her doctorate at the University of Victoria. She studies some of the oldest art in the world -- Ice Age cave art created by early humans in Europe between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Genevieve's specific focus is on the geometric signs found at many of these sites, and she's interested in how these images can help us to better understand human cognitive evolution as well as track ancient patterns of migration and explore the origins of symbolism and graphic communication. Her research has been featured both nationally and internationally in print, radio and television. In 2013, Genevieve was selected as a TED Senior Fellow.
Genevieve has a book about her latest research and this fascinating period in our human history coming out from Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., in May 2016.
Genevieve von Petzinger | Speaker | TED.com