Comment on Early evidence for symbolic behavior in the Levantine Middle Paleolithic: A 120 ka old engraved aurochs bone shaft from the open-air site of Nesher Ramla, Israel [Quat. Int. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2021.01.002]

The engraved bone of Nesher Ramla is regarded by Pre ' vost et al., as symbolic. The authors, however, fail to consider other possible interpretations that do not rely on symbolic criteria. In this commentary, a more compelling interpretation of the intentional marks is described based on a proto-aesthetic interest with respect to the Neurovisual Resonance Theory (NRT), embodied cognition and recent neuroscientific research on perception.

Automated summary

The commentary discusses possible interpretations of the engraved bone of Nesher Ramla, proposing a more compelling explanation based on proto-aesthetic interest, Neurovisual Resonance Theory, embodied cognition, and recent neuroscientific research on perception.