The Earliest Enlightened Thinkers

Based on archaeological evidence the Neolithic peoples can, in a variety of ways, be considered enlightened thinkers. Construction of the Thinker of Cernavoda (unknown artist, around 5,000 BC, http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture/thinker-of-cernavoda.htm) itself took some knowledge and understanding of materials, tools and dimension to create. It also required a further knowledge and understanding of people by the artist as they attempted to convey with this figurine the complexity and depth of the human psyche. Enlightened thinkers can also be characterized by their ability to think of life beyond their world. This image of the Lovers of Valdaro (unknown artist, 5000-4000 B.C., http://archive.archaeology.org/0801/abstracts/valdaro.html) explicitly and implicitly communicates the fact that this presumed couples burial, the couple’s connection, as well as their afterlife, required significant forethought. As Paleolithic peoples knowledge, experiences and subsequently their intellect grew so did the intricacy of their clothing. This can be seen in the difference of Paleolithic clothing, which ranged from nudity to animal hides punched with holes and sewn together utilizing bone needles, to Neolithic clothing where woven plant fiber textiles first appear, like the iceman Otzi’s grass cape. (unknown artist, 4,000-3,000 BC, http://mr_sedivy.tripod.com/iceman.html). As the Neolithic period comes to a close the era of the great Kings of Egypt is beginning and along with it comes significant changes in art, the after-life and of course a revolution in fashion. Clothing transforms from a basic necessity to a symbolic expression of status, gender, and cultural identity. The Egyptian pharaohs were not only set apart from the rest of the populous with their garbs but they also wore different clothing for different purposes. For example, in one ensemble worn by ancient Egyptian pharaohs  (unknown artist, circa 2000 BC, http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/circa-2000-bc-from-left-to-right-an-ancient-egyptian-news-photo/51241590#circa-2000-bc-from-left-to-right-an-ancient-egyptian-pharaoh-in-war-picture-id51241590) there is clear evidence of religious embellishments, purposeful, thought out complicated construction and regional symbolism which points to a elevated level of introspection and extrospection common. Early peoples’ enlightenment, basically meaning free from ignorance, is substantiated by their ability to create art, conceptualize life after death, consider a higher power, construct intricate and ornate clothing as well as the ability to create tools with which to express and immortalize these items and experiences.