The First Signs

In an adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones, archaeologist von Petzinger delves into the little-known geometric cave art of our ancient ancestors—possibly humanity’s first written communication and a key to unlocking mysteries of our past. Praised as “remarkable” by Jean Auel and “one of the most extraordinary scientific insights of our time” by Wade Davis, these symbols persisted virtually unchanged for some 30,000 years. Von Petzinger travels across Europe, attempting to decode these geometric signs, early evidence of human intelligence, symbolic thought, and language, offering glimpses into an ancient consciousness linked to our own. Part travel journal, part popular science, and part personal narrative, this groundbreaking work explores what makes us human, how we evolved, and how this cave art laid the foundation for much of the technology we enjoy today.