Given the long and essential relationship between trees and hominins (humans and their ancestors), and the wide use of trees in art, here is a surprise: cave paintings and rock art are ancient but generally lack images of either trees or humans. The oldest rock art paintings that include a tree are in eastern Brazil in Serra da Capivara National Park. They are not in caves but in rock shelters, large rock overhangs decorated with pre-Columbian paintings, at least 20,000 years old.

The painting depicts people gathered around a tree, two of whom are holding the stem. We don’t know the meaning of the painting. Some speculate that the people are worshipping the tree. They may be doing something more practical like tending the tree. It could be a fruit or nut tree and the people are harvesting food from it. We will never know, but can just enjoy it.

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