Prehistory and Prehistoric Art

 

 

PREHISTORY: refers to the time period before people could write, the time before written records.

• Objects are the documents of record
• Challenage is to "read" the nonverbal info found in objects.

 

CHRONOLOGY: divided into three general phases

• Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) c40,000-8,000 BCE
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) c8,000-7,000 BCE
• Neolithic (New Stone Age) c7,000-2,300 BCE

 

 

Paleolithic Period

 

PAINTING-represents the most extensive example of Paleolithic art.

• Altimira, Spain-Bison (fig.1-9), c14,000-12,000 BCE
• Altimira, Spain-Dead Bison (fig.1-9), c14,000-12,000 BCE
• Lascaux, France-Well Scene c15,000-10,000 BCE
• Lascaux, France-Hall of Bulls (fig.1-11), c15,000-10,000 BCE
• Lascaux, France-Chinese Horse c15,000-10,000 BCE

 

SCULPTURE-examples predate painting and drawing in archaeological record.

• Venus of Willendorf (fig.1-4), Vienna, Austria, c30,000-25,000 BCE
• Venus of Laussel c23,000-20,000 BCE
• Woman from Brassempouy (fig.1-6), France, c22,000 BCE
• Bison (fig.1-13), Le Tuc d'Audoubert, France, c13,000BCE

 

Mesolithic Period

The Mesolithic was a transitional period, when the climatic, geographical and biological patterns of today were established. Artistically, the human figure was represented in groups rather than the single figure of the Paleolithic.

• Marching Warriors, Castellon, Spain, c7000-4000 BCE

 

Neolithic Period

 

 

 

Change from hunting and gathering to sedentary existence, new art form, monumental architecture, Megaliths-Greek-Megas, made from huge stones without mortar

• Carnac, France, c3,000 BCE
• Stonehenge, England (fig.1-21), c2750-1500 BCE