SocSci 12: Carlo Miguel Rodejo

Activity 2:

As to the module lectures, behavioral modernity involves objects that depict

behavior that has been symbolically mediated. These include creative and inventive
cultures, languages, arts, religious beliefs, and intricate technological advancements.
It has expertise in issue resolution, long-term planning, and modern organizational
abilities. Basically, paradigm shifts in human behavior are just a bit older1. However,
in my sketch, these are stars, specifically constellations we see in the sky.

The relation to the simple sketch that I made, which is particularly geared
towards the discussion on the Late Pleistocene. Some challenges of sea crossings
and how they are resolved are due to the skill of navigators. In determining the
direction, it is because of these surges that their canoes are in motion. Additionally,
when it is dark, they utilize a start compass, which is a mind map created by
remembering the rising and setting points of stars and constellations, to navigate.
They also use the southern cross or the "Newe" constellations to identify the direction
of the south2. With that, I was able to come up with the idea of sketching different
constellations, as it is something that we see at night and something that would
interest me in creating rock art. The sketches of constellations are also used to
identify the different zodiac signs in astrology—for today’s understanding.

1
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/evan.20224
2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8bDCaPhOek
 SocSci 12: Carlo Miguel Rodejo

An overview of how constellations reflect behavioral modernity is provided

through a comparison of their usage at present and before. At present, these
constellations are useful in helping astronomers recognize specific stars in the night
sky. Also, these are seen as less useful, and some even incorporate specific meanings
among the 12 zodiac constellations, such as love readings, navigators of career
success, and even how it will affect your day3. On the other hand, in ancient times,
these constellations were used to track calendars, determine when to harvest plant
crops, and the like. Just like the experience of navigators in the discussion, its
purpose was to identify which direction is North or South, and East or West4. This
enabled them to travel through the sea even without digital maps, basically just by
mere assumptions, but they still managed to do so and were effective in some sort of
way5.

Taking everything into account, behavioral modernity played a huge part in

coming up with these rock art and paintings. It's amazing how such figures in the
past proved that early humans were not just logical with regards to thinking but also
creative and expressive in what they saw. As to my sketch, which are constellations,
these can still be seen in the modern age, and we humans were able to give new
interpretations about them. These also became fundamental in studying the stars
and the universe, and another scope was involved, which is a very generation Z belief
in astrology6. There might be possibilities in the future wherein these constellations
will still continuously evolve, find new discoveries, and we might have new star
patterns or art paintings in relation to them.

3
https://star-name-registry.org/blog/item/the-importance-of-the-76-constellations
4
https://planetariodevitoria.org/en/estrelas/o-que-sao-as-constelacoes-antes-e-nos-dias-atuais.html
5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8bDCaPhOek
6
Ibid.