What does hand in cave art symbolize?

Question

The outlines of human hands appear in many examples of post-Pleistocene cave art. Why do you suppose ancient people chose the hand to represent on their cave walls? Was it merely grafitti? Is there something about the hand that makes it specially meaningful to humans?

Answer 1

I always assumed it was a signature.

Answer 2

Putting colored pigment in one's mouth, and then spraying onto the outline of their hand, doesn't require much artistic talent. Anyone can do it, even children!

The hand is also a signature of our personal identity, since they could not represent a likeness of their faces, and probably did not have written names...

Answer 3

I think "Hand" for them is their way of symbolizing "work"and "territory". They are proud of it.

Answer 4

This is purely a guess and not based on any education. I'd say maybe that's how they signed their work if it's next to a drawing. Or maybe they were like children who trace their hands with crayons. Our hands are not like the hooves or paws of animals, they set us apart from most other creatures except other primates.

Answer 5

I believe it simply means, "I was here today".

Answer 6

a hand