Final answer:
Early hominids made small sculptures and preserved hand prints, reflecting a sense of beauty and symbolism. Homo sapiens, evolving with advanced tools and the capacity for symbolic thought, also created behaviorally modern artworks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early hominids created various forms of art and tools that reflect their sense of beauty and functionality. For aesthetic purposes, they crafted small animal and human sculptures, often made from carved bone or stone. These sculptures, particularly of large, possibly pregnant, women, could have symbolized fertility. Additionally, preserved hand prints have been found, made by blowing pigment around a hand placed on stone, creating a lasting image. As Homo sapiens evolved about 300,000 years ago, they developed sophisticated bone and stone tools, and their capacity for symbolic thought blossomed, as seen in the behaviorally modern creations like the Apollo 11 cave stones. This blend of practical and artistic innovation showcases the ingenuity and the aesthetic sensibility of early humans.