A short course lesson to the History of Reading giving emphasis on the Old Stone-Age Rock Painting.

1. THE HISTORY OF READING:
Old Stone Age Rock Painting
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course the students should be able
to:
a. trace the historical development of reading,
giving emphasis to the Old Stone Age Rock
Painting;
b. analyze from the various given facts, how the
different old stone age rock painting paved the
way for the development of reading; and
c. acquire appreciation of the wondrous origin of
reading, giving emphasis to Paleolithic Stage.
“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without
books history is silent, literature dumb, science
crippled.” (Barbara Trishman)
As a modern man you are surrounded by reading
materials from mass media (such as newspapers,
magazines, advertising, etc.) as well as other
forms of modern communication including the
mobile phone and the Internet. But have you
ever wondered how reading originated?
Everything in the universe including man has a
beginning and so let’s cull on what history can
tell us about reading.
Looking Back
Old Stone Age or Paleolithic Period (50,000-
10,000 B.C.) is the era of crude stone tools and
weapons. This particular era can be inferred from
the archaeological materials unearthed in the
area, bearing imprints of human use. These traces
show the emergence of people that once
wandered in the valley.
The study of tool assemblages indicates the
dominance of flake tools over large cobble tools.
However, no fossil evidence of human beings
were found in the vicinity. Perhaps, they had
migrated to some other places, inasmuch as
several wild animals were roving along the area.
Man had no other tools than sharp edged stones
that could be held by the hand. Many kinds of
stones, which naturally produce sharp edges
when broken or chipped (e.g. flint and chert),
were commonly used. Such implements are called
core tools if the remaining core itself is used as
the tool. Pebble tools are those rounded stones
like those found in the riverbeds. They are called
cobble tools if these rounded stones are larger.
Flake tools are skillfully edged and shaped.
At the onset, man’s principal way of adaptation to
the environment was by hunting. These stone
tools could be used for smashing the bones of
animals and shellfish that they have gathered.
These implements may also be used in cutting,
splitting, stripping and piercing wooden branches,
palm leaves, and bamboo. Tree barks were used
for clothing.
Analyzing the Distant Pass
According to paleontologists who study fossils
and other evidences of life on earth, the first man
was a latecomer on earth and appeared on the
planet only about one hundred thousand years
ago. But even during those primitive days, man
walked upright, had adaptable hands and a brain
which enabled him to devise ways on how to
show superior strength and cunning. And as he
lived in communities, he was a social being who
communicated with his kind.
In the beginning however, he employed grunts
and body language using gestures and postures to
convey his ideas and needs to others. Slowly, he
developed oral language which enabled him to
express more clearly the messages he wanted to
convey. In time, various circumstances such as the
need to communicate to others who are distant in
place, caused man to devise symbols
corresponding to his oral messages.
Evidences can be seen from the Old Stone Age
rock painting.

2. Concepts Driven From the Rock Paintings
 Concerned itself with either food (hunting
scenes, animal carvings) or fertility (Venus
figurines). Its predominant theme was
animals.
 Is considered to be an attempt, by Stone
Age peoples, to gain some sort of control
over their environment, whether by magic
or ritual.
 Represents a giant leap in human
cognition: abstract thinking.
Famous Old Stone Age Rock Paintings
 The Cave of Chauvet in the Ardeche
department, France – animals can be seen
in theory ones that were used as food or
represented strength, such as the
rhinoceros or large cats. Contains the
most important cave paintings of the
Paleolithic era, dating from 31, 000 BCE.
 Altamira cave paintings in Spain were
done 14,000 to 12,000 BCE and show,
among others, bisons.
 The hall of bulls in Lascaux, Dordogne,
France, dates from about 15,000 to 10,000
BCE.
 Old Stone Age Rock Painting is considered
as world’s earliest form of ART.
References:
Book Sources
Halili, Maria Christine N. (2004). Philippine History. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc.
Villanueva,AidaS.& DelosSantos,Rogelio I. (2008). Developmental Reading 1. Quezon City: Adriana Printing
Co., Inc.
Internet Sources
Prehistoric Cave Painting.(n.d.) Retrieved last December 5, 2014. Available at http://www.visual-arts-
cork.com/prehistoric/cave-painting.htm
Stone Age Rock Painting. (n.d.) Retrieved last December 5, 2014. Available at http://www.essential-
humanities.net/art-overview/stone-age/
Prepared by:
CARL PATRICK S. TADEO
REJANE CANONIZADO FALLORIN
JOMEL BUNDANG
GEENA KRISTINE ARLANTICO
BSE SOCIAL STUDIES III, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, RMTU-SAN MARCELINO