Egg Carving is a 60,000-Year-Old Artistic Movement

In a South African cave, that has been a rich source of archaeological finds, Pierre-Jean Texier from the University of Bordeaux discovered a set of 270 eggshell fragments. By looking at the carved patterns, the fragments must have come from at least 25 separate eggs. This finding shows that people were carving symbolic patterns into eggs as early as 60,000 years ago.

Time hasn’t been too kind to the shells, but even so, their etchings are still well preserved. Despite the variety of fragments, the patterns fall into a very limited set of designs. Usually, a hatched band like railway track, parallel(ish) lines, intersecting lines, and cross-hatching. Much like any other artistic movement, the egg designs had rules that everyone abided by, but it also left room for stylistic latitude. 

Today, hunter-gatherers in Kalahari, South Africa, still collect ostrich eggs for food, as beads, or as water containers. Some of the bushmen groups use a graphic and schematic tradition to communicate collective identities as well as individual ones. It’s thought that the prehistoric hunter-gathers may have used the eggs for a similar purpose. This is thought to show signs of a modern human intelligence operating tens of thousands of years ago.

Egg carving is a traditional art form that has been practiced for centuries in various cultures around the world. From ancient Egypt, China, and throughout Europe, it is considered a combination of art and technology.

The carving of eggs has come a long way from the rudimentary shells found in these ancient digs. With the advancements in carving tools and techniques, these eggs have become intricate works of art. Using Ostrich, Emu, Goose and even chicken eggs. The master carvers have elevated this art form to produce stunning works.