Publication: The First Signs

One of the most significant works on our evolutionary ancestry since Richard Leakey’s paradigm-shattering Origins, The First Signs is the first-ever exploration of the little-known geometric images that accompany most cave art around the world—the first indications of symbolic meaning, intelligence, and language.

The book is scheduled for release on May 31st, 2016 and is available for pre-ordering here.

About the Author: Signum member Genevieve von Petzinger is a rising star in the study of rock art from the Ice Age in Europe—the only researcher in the world focusing specifically on connections between the abstract signs from this time period. The unique database she built holds more than 5,000 signs from almost 400 sites across Europe. Her work has been featured in popular science magazines such as New Scientist and the European edition of Science Illustrated. She was selected as a 2011 TED Global Fellow, a TED 2013-15 Senior Fellow, and she will speak at the 2015 TED Fellows retreat.