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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Quick mention here that GAERHF has received funding from NYU's "Research Catalyst" grant program. Funds to hire two students assistants next academic year. I'm psyched! And grateful. I'll write a blog post soon...

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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

First go at a #3D globe for GAERHF. Various UI/UX details to iron out. But try it at gaerhf.org/3d/#eyrarlan... . There's also a link from main page.

Screen shot of 3D globe with GAERHF markers.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Well-illustrated site describing many figures from Russia. Many are Early Medieval. Here's an overall page: objet.art/as/subscript... , and here's an article: objet.art/as/articles/... . Need to explore more...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

I have known that there is a petroglyph site on the Musandam Peninsula in Oman (that is, near the Strait of Hormuz). I don't think it's well-represented in the wikiverse. But first go at gaerhf.org#tawi-petrogl... .

Screenshot with info window and map showing location of Tawi petroglyphs in Oman.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Quick post of current GAERHF map. I guess I'm not doing terribly in terms of distribution. Much more to do. And I note that for now, Leaflet (the map rendering javascript library I use) can't (I don't think) shift the center at global scale and maintain display of points. Solutions to come..

Shifted to put Bering Straight at center and showing that not all points render.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

If you place the cursor over the gallery of thumbnails at the bottom of the screen, all the "Info Floating Windows" (for want of a better term) will become partially transparent. Possibly useful? Definitely an experiment with UI/UX subtleties.

Screenshot showing info window transparency.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Interesting publication of recent find in Laos. Including human figures. Loosely dated but 7K-4K BP for elements within a long history of painting at the site? Now in GAERHF: gaerhf.org#tham-pha-mue... . Direct to article: link.springer.com/article/10.1... .

GAERHF screenshot showing thumbnail and location in Laos.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I'm changing up the GAERHF map interface. Info for each figure in a floating (sub)window. Option clicking opens new window. Interactions are complex so working on those. Single image here is gaerhf.org#figurine-tem... . And paired with gaerhf.org#deposit-figu... . Multi-figure links coming...

Paring of Gallic figurine and dolls/puppets from El Salvador.

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Archaeology News Online Magazine @archaeologynews.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

New 3D method maps Paleolithic engravings at Cova Matutano Researchers from Universitat Jaume I, the University of Barcelona, and ICREA tested a digital method to study very fine engravings on Late Paleolithic portable art... More information: archaeologymag.com/2026/02/pale... #archaeology

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

I've added a compelling frieze showing distressed bodies from Vichama in Peru. That's a late Caral Culture site perhaps occupied after the abandonment of Caral itself. Thumbnail image is from linked JAS (paywalled) article. Two additional entries from site also in GAERHF. gaerhf.org#famine-friez...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

↓↓↓ *** APRIL 21st *** ↓↓↓ not the 1st. Sorry about that. -S.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

On April 1st, 2026 at 5PM (Eastern time), I'll lead an @isawnyu.bsky.social "Expanding the Ancient World Workshop" titled "Digital Approaches to Global Art History: The Example of the Human Figure" and on topic of using GAERHF in teaching. isaw.nyu.edu/events/etaw-... to register. #GlobalAntiquity

isaw.nyu.edu

Expanding the Ancient World Workshop

This workshop will take place online. Registration is required; click through for the registration link. Zoom information will be provided via confirmation email to registered participants. Expanding ...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

As follow up: Schroda Male figurine now in GAERHF. gaerhf.org#male-anthrop... . At least on a preliminary basis.

Screen shot showing drawing of figurines from Schroda as well location in southern Africa.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

The southern African "Lydenburg Heads" (C. 500 CE) are now in GAERHF. Along with the "Luzira Head" (C. 1000 CE ??) from Uganda. See gaerhf.org#lydenburg-he... & gaerhf.org#luzira-head . I'm looking for a good landing page and pic for figurines from Schroda. artsandculture.google.com/asset/schrod...

A Lydenburg Head. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Photograph of Luzira Head. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Schroda (South Africa) figurines as illustrated on the Google Arts and Culture site.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

The concept "Behavioral Modernity" is generally of interest to GAERHF. Though not as a "meme" just to be accepted. Here's a 2025 thematic issue of "Biological Theory" under title "Behavioral Modernity: Reframing the Idea, or Past its Use-By Date?" ed. Kim Sterelny. link.springer.com/collections/...

Screenshot for article Blinded by the Light (of Modernity): Does the Concept of Modern Human Behavior Obscure Diversity in Hominin Cultural Evolution?

Screen shot for article A Meme’s Eye View of Pleistocene Symbolic Behavior

Screenshot for article: Material Symbols and the Archaeological Record

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Archaeology Magazine @archaeologymag.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

How old is the rock art in Texas’ Lower Pecos Canyonlands? New radiocarbon dating sets it as far back as 6,000 years ago. Archaeologists think the images of animal- and human-like figures represent a sophisticated cosmology. archaeology.org/news/2025/12/02/new-dates-obtained-for-texas-rock-art/

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

More excavation results from SE Turkey. A head carved at the base of Pre Pottery Neolithic T-Column installation. gaerhf.org#head-base-pi... . Türkiye Today article has great pics.

GAERHF screenshot with map and image of figure.

Article screenshot. Showing niche with skeletons opposite carved face.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Now in GAERHF: gaerhf.org#platform-hea... . Along with a fair amount of other regional PPNA and PPNB +/-figures.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Ongoing interface and content work for GAERHF. Pic shows hovering over thumbnail for bigger image. And shows that I'm pasting in text from linked websites. I'm open to many sources. Text here is translation of inscription that dates figure as found on Wiki Commons. gaerhf.org#mankuwar-bud...

GAERHF screen shot with map, descriptive text, and expanded image.

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MAHSA Project @mahsa-project.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Join us online or in person for a talk from MAHSA’s Vaneshree Vidyarthi: ‘Mapping the Indian Palaeolithic’, part of the London Centre for the Ancient Near East’s Autumn seminar series. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lcane-autu...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

GAERHF talk happening November 25th at 5PM in London. "Deep Time and Global Scope in a Digital Project: The example of the Human Figure" www.history.ac.uk/digital-huma... . It will be on Zoom as well. Link will be sent after registration (I think).

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Working on color palette for GAERHF that's more likely to be discernible by more people. The light-ish purple circle on map is current figure whose details are shown. Brown marker borders show which figures have "ivory" as a keyword. Input at top-left to select that. gaerhf.org#ivory-female...

GAERHF screen shot with new colors more likely to be discernible by more people.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

"Keyword Highlighting" in GAERHF more robust. Type "go" in top-left input field and you'll see options. Hover over options and relevant figures will be highlighted with green border. Click on a keyword and those markers will stay green. Current selected object is gaerhf.org#bimaran-casket

Screen shot showing keyword highlighting.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Interface improvement: When you hover over the image in the top pane, it expands. Definitely makes it easier to see detail. Try the so-called "Peedie Pict" from Orkney: gaerhf.org#figure-carve...

Screenshot. Size of image when hovering. The inscribed figure is much more visible.

Screenshot. Image of figure too small to make out detail

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

HTML, CSS, and JS cleanup in GAERHF. And honestly, VS Code's Copilot a huge help! I was pretty much vibe coding. Image works better, layout less clobber its various parts, try control-shift-L to change the color scheme of markers. A slider shows/hides. Figure is gaerhf.org#head-shaped-... .

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

The "Museo delle Statue Stele Lunigianesi" website is very nice. Here's a link to "Classification". Click through to pages with individual examples. And click around the entire site. It's well done. I'd like to visit! statuestele.org/stele-statue...

statuestele.org

Classification - Museo delle Statue Stele Lunigianesi

Group A

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

There are now 500 figures in GAERHF. And counting... Long way to go before it's anything like comprehensive. This face from Argentina captures my mood as I think about where this all will end up. gaerhf.org#condorhuasi-... (Pic of Mask from Met Museum, Public Domain.)

Mask
Condorhuasi-Alamito artist(s)
400 BCE–500 CE
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/708743

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Semi-functional UI development: "Keyword Highlighting". See pic. There's a small textbox at top left with "Gold". Green rings are figures with that keyword. I've clicked on a S. American beaker, highlighted in red, details in top pane. Pop-up is on hover over green marker. gaerhf.org#beaker-figur...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

A new "human figure" related article: N. Sugiyama, K. Taube, S. Sugiyama, & A.T. Muñoz. 2025. "Carved monuments from Cerro Patlachique in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico" www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

cambridge.org

Carved monuments from Cerro Patlachique in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico | Antiquity | Cambridge Core

Carved monuments from Cerro Patlachique in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I'm working on a substantial UI update for GAERHF. Pic shows detail for a figure in Yemen, mouse is hovering over a figure across Red Sea, and a small gallery of all figures on screen is at bottom of page. Works best slightly zoomed in. Otherwise gallery too big. Try it at gaerhf.org#qatabanian-c...

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Quick note that I've added this Parthian "lute player" and that I'm happy to admit that I hadn't known that there is a series of Parthian musical figurines. See the linked wiki page for another example. gaerhf.org#parthian-lut... #AncientMusic

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I'm working on an improvement to the GAERHF user experience. Links such as gaerhf.org#standing-fem... will highlight the location in red and maintain that highlight as you hover over other figures. Big picture: The spatial and temporal context of any one figure can be explored in relation to others.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I'm not going to include the "Nine Maidens" stone circle in GAERHF. It is a useful illustration of our willingness to find – to project – evocations of the human form in many contexts. No doubt a relatively recent name, which is on point. (P.s. Here's wiki page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Ma... )

en.wikipedia.org

Nine Maidens stone circle - Wikipedia

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

First go at getting some Scandinavian and Icelandic "Viking Period" figures into GAERHF. 1: Female Sword Bearer from Hårby. C. 800. gaerhf.org#female-sword... #ArtHistory #GlobalArtHistory

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Overlapping conceptions of the human form from Malta and Sardinia. I don't mean that as any formal "Art Historical" statement. Just allowing for overlap in the Central Mediterranean. And beyond. 1: Bonu Ighinu Statuette from Sardiina (C. 4500 BCE) gaerhf.org#bonu-ighinu-... ... 🧵

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The Art Newspaper @theartnewspaper.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered an 11,000-year-old carved face at Karahan Tepe, offering new insight into early human expression and symbolism. buff.ly/JbuYz8k

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

There are now 450 entries in GAERHF. So I made a video of scrolling through the "List" view. And paused to click on a few along the way. That was a bit random. This all neither here nor there yet. Much work to do! I had to compress it a bit to get under 100 mb. #GlobalAntiquity #GlobalDH gaerhf.org

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

GAERHF is beginning - though only that! - to capture the range and time depth of representations of human figures from the Arabian Peninsula. Here's a thread in chronological order of what's been entered so far. With more lined up... #GlobalAntiquity #Arabia

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Early Holocene human figure petroglyph from Saudi Arabia published in recent article www.nature.com/articles/s41... . Now in GAERHF at gaerhf.org#human-figure... .

Detail of illustration from article showing human figure outlined in yellow

GAERHF screenshot showing location in Saudi Arabia.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Many cultures produced so-called "Face Pots". And why not? Using colloquial language, a fairly natural combo. I've just added this piece from the Swat Region in Pakistan and of the "Gandhara Grave Culture". 1200 to 800 BCE. (Piece in Los Angeles, click thru for more info.) gaerhf.org#gandhara-gra...

Screen shot showing facepot and approximate origin in northern Pakistan.

Wikimedia Commons image of the facepot. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cremation_Urn_with_Lid_LACMA_AC1994.234.8a-b.jpg

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

These reactions to contemporary portraits are broadly relevant to GAERHF: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/a...

nytimes.com

Tina Turner Sculpture Joins List of Scorned Statues

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Bibliographic note for upcoming data entry: Aurel Rustoiu. 2012. "The Ceramic Human Head from Deta Timiş County. About the La Tène Vessels with Anthropomorphic Decoration from the Carpathian Basin" ANALELE BANATULUI, S.N., ARHEOLOGIE – ISTORIE, XX. Online at: analelebanatului.ro/en/view-arti...

Plate II showing a five heads in stone and metal.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

And now pleased to have in hand a reprint of N. Morss. (1964). “Clay Figurines of the American Southwest”. Need to go through it. The plate shows possible c. 1000 BCE - 500 CE “Basket Maker II” figurines. That’s rough chronology!! Details to come??

Plate showing “Basket Weaver I” figurines.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

I can’t claim to have read every word yet, but was happy to see “The Colossal Statue of Shapur I in the Context of Sasanian Sculptures” came via ILL. Waiting for me over summer. Quick scan suggests it’s well titled. -S.

Cover showing the colossal statue in color.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

10400 BCE! Yikes. How'd I cut those two characters out?!? Those 10,000 years. -S.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

GAERHF isn't strong on Pre-Pottery Neolithic yet. Think Gobekli Tepe. I've wanted to ease into that well-represented period. To give it context. I've now added a bowl from Körtik Tepe (c. 400 BCE to 9250 BCE so a hint early). With an anthropomorphic figure. gaerhf.org#stone-bowl-h... More coming...

Screen shot of GAERHF showing location of Kortik Tepe and bowl with human figure.

Image of bowl with human figure. From Wikimedia Commons.

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Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

The so-called "Redhorn Panel" from Picture Cave in Missouri (c. 10th Century CE) now in GAERHF. With a link to the Internet Archive for discussion (you may need to be logged in to see that page??). gaerhf.org#redhorn-pane... And the cluster of Adena->Hopewell->Mississippian figures is growing.

Screen shot of GAERHF showing location of Picture Cave in Missouri.

Color pic of the Redhorn Panel. From http://www.profmichaelfuller.com/picture-cave.html .

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