Final answer:
The many greenstone sculptures found primarily represent animals, reflecting the significant role animals played in Paleolithic society, with connections to survival, spirituality, and artistic expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
These greenstone sculptures, especially during the Paleolithic era, frequently depicted animals, which were an important part of the lives and survival of early humans. Not only did Paleolithic art include animal sculptures, but also humans, with a significant number of the human-shaped items representing large, potentially pregnant women, indicating a possible connection to fertility symbols.
Furthermore, cave paintings often included animals like horses and bison, which is concurrent with the themes observed in sculptural pieces. Scholars suggest that these items had cultural significance, possibly reflecting the spiritual beliefs or functional requirements of the societies that created them. In addition to figurative sculptures, early humans also used clay, bone, and wood for tools and small objects, including beads and figurines, underpinning the diverse use of materials in their artistic expressions.