It is difficult to pinpoint who the first craftsmen were in human history, as crafts developed independently in different parts of the world at the same time. Nevertheless, the first manifestations of craftsmanship emerged in the Paleolithic, during the period known as the Stone Age.

Origin

In the Paleolithic, humans began to build stone tools to facilitate different daily tasks, such as building shelters, hunting, fighting the cold and gathering food. These tools were made by carving stones, bones, animal skins and wood.

For example, in Africa, evidence of carved stone tools dating back more than 2 million years has been found, indicating an ancient craft tradition on that continent.

On the other hand, carved stone tools dating back more than 40,000 years have been discovered in Europe and Asia, such as the famous artifacts from the Chauvet Cave in France or the cave paintings in Altamira in Spain, which show the skill and creativity of early craftsmen.

And what was their evolution when we stopped being hunter-gatherers?

At the beginning of civilization, human communities began to incorporate more materials than those mentioned above, such as metals and plant fibers. Thanks to the incorporation of these, they were able to further perfect their utensils, ornaments, weapons and clothing. These skills were passed down from generation to generation and were perfected over time.

Crafts were not only intended to satisfy the needs of ancient societies, but also played an important role in the cultural expression and identity of peoples, since, as we have seen, they originated simultaneously in different parts of the world. Craftsmen produced practical and functional objects that were indispensable for the survival and progress of their community.

As time has passed and technology has advanced, craftsmanship has evolved and has had to compete against industrialization and mass production, drastically diminishing traditional craftsmanship in many places. However, craftsmanship still exists and is valued in different forms around the world, either preserving ancient techniques and traditions or fusing them with modern and contemporary approaches.

What is the future of this art?

In today's society, the role of the artisan remains important and valuable, although as we mentioned, it faces many challenges compared to the past. Some of the functions and roles that artisans play in contemporary society are as follows:

  1. Promoting sustainability and conscious consumption: Crafts are often associated with more sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes, since in most cases, they use local, recycled or naturally-sourced materials, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.
  2. Job creation and economic development: For those rural communities or regions with rich artisanal activity, this can be an important source of employment, generating income for themselves and their communities through the sale of their products. In fact, it can also be a tourist attraction and thus contribute to local economic development.
  3. Conscious consumption: Artisanal production encourages a conscious consumption approach, valuing quality, durability and manual work over mass and disposable production.
  4. Preservation of traditions and cultural heritage: Artisans play a crucial role in preserving artisanal techniques, knowledge and traditions passed down from generation to generation. By keeping traditional crafts alive, they contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage of a community or region.
  5. Innovation and fusion of tradition and modernity: Many artisans also explore new techniques and materials, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary approaches and designs. This allows artisans to adapt to changing market tastes and needs, while keeping artisan traditions alive.

Can we classify other living beings as artisans?

Surely most of you have witnessed how some animal species display skills in making and constructing objects, such as bird nests or spider webs. These behaviors are not considered craftsmanship in the human sense. These examples of animal construction are more instinctive and are related to survival, reproduction and innate behavior.

Craftsmanship, as it is understood in human society, implies a specific cultural and creative dimension that goes beyond the mere functionality that other living beings can give it. For humans, craftsmanship could ultimately be summarized as the application of specific skills, techniques and knowledge transmitted through generations, as the expression of individual creativity and the interpretation of reality and culture.