Carved standing stone, Lombardy, Italy. In the alpine valley of Valcamonica, a new figurative art flourished around 4, 500 years ago. Standing stones were carved with depictions of the cosmos, early agriculture and metal weaponry. Wild and domesticated animals are shown alongside humans or spirit beings and celestial bodies like the sun. Symbols such as spirals and necklaces are associated with female identities while daggers, axes and wild animals are thought to represent male symbols. The carvings were applied over time creating evermore complex images.