An early species humans who lived 120,000 and 35,000 years ago were not as good drawing as early modern humans. The species is called Neanderthal man. They became extinct tens thousands years ago. They had large brains and made complex tools to hunt, but they never showed the ability to draw recognizable images. This is unlike early modern humans who drew animals and other figures rocks and cave walls. Professor Richard Coss, an expert pre-historic drawings, studied ancient photos and video film early art. He studied charcoal drawings and engravings animals made human artists from 28,000 to 32,000 years ago southern France.
A professor said the difference artistic skills could be because the way they hunted. Neanderthal man hunted tamer animals that were easier to kill. However, early modern humans hunted more dangerous animals. This needed better hand-eye coordination. Professor Coss said: "Neanderthals could mentally visualize previously seen animals working memory, but they were unable to translate those mental images effectively the coordinated hand-movement patterns required
drawing." Professor Coss said early modern humans used drawings to plan hunts and to focus
and discuss which parts an animal's body to target.
