The origin of such rites of passage is unclear. However, there is reason to believe that such rites existed long before the beginning of history, before there was any system of writing to record the rituals. In caves and on rock walls all over the world, there are paintings from the Paleolithic Era (Old stone Age)-exquisite art that may have been part of the people’s rituals. In the graves of even these very ancient people, objects have been carefully placed. Anthropologists believe that this may be evidence of early religion and of the human need to mark the transitions from one stage to another in their lives-a universal, timeless need.