To understand how we have arrived at this juncture, it may be useful to briefly review the history of human communication and some of its uses.

The origins of human communication

Communication is an evolutionary adaptation that increases the likelihood that a species will survive. There are many instances of species that use communication to make themselves more efficient and successful in the natural world. For example, bees can tell co-workers the location of the pollen they carry to their hives (PBS, 2000). Ants leave chemical trails that provide information to other ants (Arnold, 2013). Bird song contains messages from ‘here I am’ to ‘look out for that hawk’ (Tkaczyk, n.d.). Larger animals also leave a variety of messages for others, ranging from spraying to rubbing pheromones onto surfaces to sounds of various kinds (Khan Academy, n.d.). These tactics are used to increase the chances of survival for the group or species. Sharing information has been vital to the survival of humans as well. While we cannot recapture conversations around an ancient campfire, there are clues from archaeological investigations that indicate that early humans used various nonverbal means of communication as a way to pass messages on to others.

Cave art was one means of communication. Art dating to about 50,000 years ago in Europe, Asia and Australia shows the types of animals that were hunted in the area, as well as some that were not local to the place where the drawings were made. Multiple handprints and stenciled handprint outlines indicated, at least, that numbers of people had visited a spot. Experts speculate about other messages the handprints might have conveyed. Ownership, membership in a group, indications of arrival or departure, and so on, have all been postulated. Paintings in hard-to-reach locations may have meant to communicate a spiritual element to life in the Paleolithic. It seems clear that cave art was meant to convey messages. It is just not clear from the modern vantage point exactly what those messages were (Clottes, 2020).

Portable art, pieces small and light enough to be carried, also convey information. Venus figurines, beads, shells, individualized tools and art supplies have all contributed to the creation of art and the spread of its messages.