Dance scenes in Levantine rock art (Spain): a critical review

We argue here that it is possible to study dance in prehistoric societies by analysing how it was depicted in rock art. For this research to be effective, subjectivity must be minimised by analysing the images systematically. We adapt a series of criteria first established in Garfinkel’s ‘archaeolog...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Santos da Rosa, Neemias, Fernández Macías, Laura, Mattioli, Tommaso, Díaz-Andreu, Margarita
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/221113
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/221113
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Dansa
Arqueologia
Pintura rupestre
Península Ibèrica
Espanya
Prehistòria
Dance
Archaeology
Rocks paintings
Iberian Peninsula
Spain
Prehistory
Descripción
Sumario:We argue here that it is possible to study dance in prehistoric societies by analysing how it was depicted in rock art. For this research to be effective, subjectivity must be minimised by analysing the images systematically. We adapt a series of criteria first established in Garfinkel’s ‘archaeology of dance’ and apply them to our case study of dance representations in Spanish Levantine rock art. We conclude that only twelve scenes fit the typical parameters of dance representations. By studying this set of images, we are able to identify dances with a single individual, couples and groups. We suggest that dances took place in more than one context and followed specific cultural patterns, among which we highlight gender identity.