During which period did humans first begin recording pictographs related to burials?

The Paleolithic period, often referred to as the Old Stone Age, is recognized as the time when early humans developed the first forms of symbolic communication, including pictographs. This era predates the establishment of agriculture and significant social structures, illustrating a time when humans relied on hunting and gathering.

During the Paleolithic, archaeological evidence indicates that humans began to express their beliefs about death and the afterlife through art. The creation of cave paintings and engravings that depict human figures, animals, and potentially funerary practices suggests an early form of ritualistic thinking related to burials. This artistic representation indicates an emerging understanding of mortality and the cultural importance of burials, which would later evolve into more complex ceremonial practices.

The Eolithic period, which is often referred to as a transitional phase between the Lower Paleolithic and other periods, does not have documented evidence of pictographic recording related to burials. The Neolithic period, while it featured advancements like agriculture and settled communities, showed more complex burial practices than the illustrations seen in the Paleolithic, thus representing a continuation rather than the inception of pictographs. The Modern period, on the other hand, relates to contemporary practices and understandings, which are far different from the primitive expressions found in the Paleolithic