"The term 'prehistoric art' refers to all art produced in preliterate, prehistorical cultures beginning somewhere in very late geological history, and generally continuing until that culture either develops writing or other methods of record-keeping."
Art created before the invention of writing, ranging from cave paintings to stone carvings.
Paleolithic art: The earliest form of prehistoric art created during the Paleolithic era, which includes cave paintings, carvings, and sculpture made from stone or bone.
Neolithic art: The art created by humans during the Neolithic era, which includes pottery, stone, and jade carvings, megalithic structures, and other artifacts associated with early agricultural civilizations.
Early human-animal relationships: The relationship between early humans and the animals they encountered, including their impact on hunting practices, material culture, and religious beliefs.
Anthropology of art: The study of how human societies create, understand, and use art, including the relationships between art and social, economic, and cultural contexts.
Art styles and techniques: Different styles and techniques of prehistoric art, including the use of natural pigments, engraving, relief sculpting, and other methods.
Symbolism and mythology: The symbolism and mythology behind prehistoric art, including representations of deities, nature spirits, and other supernatural figures.
Archaeology and art history: The intersection between archaeology and art history, including the use of archaeological evidence to interpret prehistoric art and the ways in which art can inform our understanding of ancient societies.
Prehistoric art and identity: The role of prehistoric art in shaping and expressing identity, including the use of art as a means of communication and social cohesion.
Global prehistoric art: The diversity of prehistoric art across different regions and cultures, including the art of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Contemporary interpretations of prehistoric art: The role of contemporary artists and scholars in reinterpreting and recontextualizing prehistoric art for contemporary audiences.
Cave paintings: These are paintings created inside caves and are often located in hard-to-access areas. They typically depict animals and were created by early humans during the Paleolithic era.
Megalithic art: This refers to art that was created using large stones, such as Stonehenge in England. These structures are thought to have had religious or ritualistic significance.
Petroglyphs: These are images that were scratched or carved onto rocks. They are found all over the world, with some of the most famous ones found in the American southwest.
Sculpture: Sculptures were created by early humans by carving wood or stone. They typically depict humans or animals and are often stylized.
Portable art: This refers to any type of art that can be easily transported, such as beads or figurines. These objects were often used for decorative or ritualistic purposes.
Tally sticks: These are sticks or bones that have marks carved into them. They were used by early humans to keep track of numbers or events.
Jewelry: Jewelry was created by early humans using shells, bones, and other materials. These objects were often worn for decorative or symbolic purposes.
Cave engravings: These are engravings that were created by early humans onto cave walls. They often depict animals or hunting scenes.
Rock art: This refers to any type of art that is created on or directly into the surface of rocks. It includes both petroglyphs and cave paintings.
Ceramic art: Ceramics were created by early humans by firing clay. These objects were often used for storage or cooking purposes.
"At this point ancient art begins, for the older literate cultures."
"It is clear that such workmanship existed 40,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic era..."
"...the discovery of the earliest known drawing by Homo sapiens, which is estimated to be 73,000 years old."
"...much earlier than the 43,000 years old artifacts understood to be the earliest known modern human drawings found previously."
"Engraved shells created by Homo erectus dating as far back as 500,000 years ago have been found, although experts disagree on whether these engravings can be properly classified as 'art'."
"From the Upper Paleolithic through to the Mesolithic, cave paintings and portable art such as figurines and beads predominated..."
"In the Neolithic evidence of early pottery appeared, as did sculpture and the construction of megaliths."
"Early rock art also first appeared during this period."
"The advent of metalworking in the Bronze Age brought additional media available for use in making art, an increase in stylistic diversity, and the creation of objects that did not have any obvious function other than art."
"It also saw the development in some areas of artisans, a class of people specializing in the production of art, as well as early writing systems."
"By the Iron Age, civilizations with writing had arisen from Ancient Egypt to Ancient China."
"Many indigenous peoples from around the world continued to produce artistic works distinctive to their geographic area and culture..."
"...until exploration and commerce brought record-keeping methods to them."
"These cultures may be classified as prehistoric, especially if their writing systems have not been deciphered."
"...portable art such as figurines and beads predominated..."
"...with decorative figured workings also seen on some utilitarian objects."
"In the Neolithic evidence of early pottery appeared, as did sculpture and the construction of megaliths."
"...an increase in stylistic diversity..."
"It also saw the development in some areas of artisans, a class of people specializing in the production of art..."