35,000 B.C.-15,000 B.C.35,000 B.C.-15,000 B.C.

**Prehistoric Art first appeared **Prehistoric Art first appeared about 30,000 years ago during about 30,000 years ago during the the Paleolithic periodPaleolithic period which is which is also know as the Old Stone Age. also know as the Old Stone Age. The people of the Old Stone The people of the Old Stone Age were hunter-gatherers who Age were hunter-gatherers who lived in caves. Not much is lived in caves. Not much is known about them except what known about them except what has been discovered painted on has been discovered painted on cave walls or objects that have cave walls or objects that have been excavated.been excavated.

• Some of the most important art Some of the most important art work to come from this time period work to come from this time period were Paleolithic Cave Paintings and were Paleolithic Cave Paintings and Paleolithic Sculptures.Paleolithic Sculptures.

Early cave paintings have been Early cave paintings have been discovered all the way from discovered all the way from southern Spain to southern Siberia. southern Spain to southern Siberia. They might have painted these They might have painted these paintings to teach lessons of paintings to teach lessons of survival, to portray legends, or to survival, to portray legends, or to illustrate traditions. Although it is illustrate traditions. Although it is not known if the artists were men not known if the artists were men or women, it is known that the or women, it is known that the caves were used for thousands of caves were used for thousands of years, with many surfaces over years, with many surfaces over painted a number of times.painted a number of times.

*Determining the Age of *Determining the Age of Prehistoric Art:Prehistoric Art:

-Many of today’s experts believe that the -Many of today’s experts believe that the earliest known works of art were earliest known works of art were created some 30,000 years agocreated some 30,000 years ago

- There are several ways experts can - There are several ways experts can determine the age of an artifact/art determine the age of an artifact/art piece.piece.

a) Experts can date something based on a) Experts can date something based on the age of the surrounding earth layer.the age of the surrounding earth layer.

b) Experts can also use the method of b) Experts can also use the method of radiocarbon dating of once-living radiocarbon dating of once-living objects found near the artifact.objects found near the artifact.

-Both these methods help experts to -Both these methods help experts to determine the approximate date the determine the approximate date the paintings/artifacts were produced.paintings/artifacts were produced.

See, Think, WonderSee, Think, Wonder1.1. What do you see? What do you see?

(Describe with as much (Describe with as much detail as you can)detail as you can)

2.2. What do you think? What do you think? (why (why was this sculpture was this sculpture created?)created?)

3.3. What do you wonderWhat do you wonder? (Is ? (Is there a meaning? there a meaning? Purpose?)Purpose?)

The first sculptureThe first sculpture is the is the “Venus of “Venus of Willendorf”. (Discovered in Willendorf, Willendorf”. (Discovered in Willendorf, Austria in 1908)Austria in 1908)

This is the oldest and most famous This is the oldest and most famous prehistoric statue to date. prehistoric statue to date.

The limestone figure is nude and just 4 The limestone figure is nude and just 4 inches high. inches high.

The artist emphasizes the woman’s The artist emphasizes the woman’s head, bosom , torso, and thighs, while head, bosom , torso, and thighs, while her facial features, neck, arms and her facial features, neck, arms and lower legs are disproportionately lower legs are disproportionately small. small. WHY??WHY??

The exaggerated bosom, abdomen and The exaggerated bosom, abdomen and hips indicate their use as fertility hips indicate their use as fertility figures. Interestingly, this early figures. Interestingly, this early portrayal of a nude female is a portrayal of a nude female is a distinctive aspect of Paleolithic art distinctive aspect of Paleolithic art that began a long standing tradition in that began a long standing tradition in art. art.

It was created between 24,000 BC and It was created between 24,000 BC and 22,000 BC22,000 BC

The second sculptureThe second sculpture was dwas discovered in 1986 iscovered in 1986 in Dolni Vestonici in in Dolni Vestonici in the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic, this figure was carved this figure was carved from mammoth ivory from mammoth ivory and is dated at 26,640 and is dated at 26,640 BCEBCE

What is this a sculpture of??

The third sculptureThe third sculpture is the is the ““Venus de LespugueVenus de Lespugue”” found in Les Eyzies de found in Les Eyzies de

Tayac, France. Tayac, France. The The Venus Venus of Lespugueof Lespugue is a is a

Venus figurine, a , a statuette of of a nude female figure from a nude female figure from approximately approximately 25,000 BC. . It was discovered in It was discovered in 1922 Approximately 6 inches Approximately 6 inches

(147 mm) tall, it is carved (147 mm) tall, it is carved from from tusk ivory, and was , and was

damaged during damaged during excavationexcavation.

This sculpture looks similar to which other one??

The fourth sculptureThe fourth sculpture is the “Venus de Brassenpouy” (French: (French: la Dame de la Dame de BrassempouyBrassempouy "Lady of "Lady of Brassempouy" or Brassempouy" or Dame ‡ Dame ‡ la Capuchela Capuche "Lady with the "Lady with the Hood") is a fragmentary Hood") is a fragmentary ivory figurine from the figurine from the Upper Paleolithic which which was discovered at was discovered at Brassempouy, , FranceFrance in in 1892. About 25,000 years 1892. About 25,000 years old, it is one of the earliest old, it is one of the earliest known realistic known realistic representations of a representations of a human face.human face.

1. What commonalities do these 4 sculptures 1. What commonalities do these 4 sculptures have?have?

2. Why do you think similar styled sculptures 2. Why do you think similar styled sculptures were made in various parts of now modern day were made in various parts of now modern day Europe?Europe?

3. If you were to “create” yourself as a prehistoric 3. If you were to “create” yourself as a prehistoric sculpture, what would it look like and why did you sculpture, what would it look like and why did you create that “design”? create that “design”? *Take the next 10-15 minutes sketching TWO sculptures of your self with a description* Keep in mind the simplicity of Pre-historic Art!!!

The first Paleolithic cave paintings The first Paleolithic cave paintings were discovered in 1879 at the were discovered in 1879 at the Altamira in northwest SpainAltamira in northwest Spain. The . The cave paintings of Altamira were cave paintings of Altamira were painted between 15,000 BC-10,000 painted between 15,000 BC-10,000 BC. The ceiling on the Altmira cave BC. The ceiling on the Altmira cave in Spain has been called the Sistine in Spain has been called the Sistine Chapel of prehistoric paintings. Chapel of prehistoric paintings.

There are at least 200 known There are at least 200 known painted caves in Europe alone. painted caves in Europe alone. Many of the animals painted in Many of the animals painted in these caves are extinct. Most of the these caves are extinct. Most of the cave paintings consisted of horses, cave paintings consisted of horses, bison, mammoth, auraux (huge bison, mammoth, auraux (huge oxen), ibex and six species of deer.oxen), ibex and six species of deer.

Most of the paintings were Most of the paintings were outlined in black and then color outlined in black and then color was applied. Paints used were was applied. Paints used were black and yellow manganese, black and yellow manganese, red and yellow ocher and red and yellow ocher and occasionally violet. The occasionally violet. The pigments were mostly mixed pigments were mostly mixed with blood or animal fat. **with blood or animal fat. **Pg. Pg. 132132

Some of the animals are Some of the animals are decorated with mysterious, decorated with mysterious, abstract signs and geometric abstract signs and geometric shapes such as circles, ellipses, shapes such as circles, ellipses, dots and crescents. dots and crescents.

The second Paleolithic Cave Paintings were the Lascaux Caves, a cave complex in southwestern France, contain some of the most remarkable Paleolithic cave paintings in the world.

The Lascaux cave paintings were painted between 15,000BC-10,000BC.

The Lascaux cave paintings were discovered on Thursday, September 12, 1940, by four French teenagers. The news of the discovery quickly spread and many villagers came to see it themselves. Soon archaeologists visited the site as well.

One of the most famous wall paintings inside the Lascaux caves is the “Great Hall of Bulls”.

The artists used strong outlines and vivid naturalistic colors while demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the physical characteristics of the creatures being portrayed.

Although they clearly possessed great artistic skills, cave artists never drew landscapes and rarely portrayed human figures.

Pech-Merle is a cave in the south of Pech-Merle is a cave in the south of France.France.

Pech- Merle was discovered in 1922 Pech- Merle was discovered in 1922 by two teenagers, Andre David and by two teenagers, Andre David and Henri Dutertre, when they were 16 Henri Dutertre, when they were 16 and 15 years old respectively. The and 15 years old respectively. The examination of the paintings and examination of the paintings and engravings was immediately begun engravings was immediately begun by Father AmÈdÈe Lemozi, the by Father AmÈdÈe Lemozi, the priest of Cabrerets. The galleries of priest of Cabrerets. The galleries of the cave are on average 10 m wide the cave are on average 10 m wide and the height of the ceilings is and the height of the ceilings is about 5 to 10 m. There are two about 5 to 10 m. There are two levels of the cave, but there are only levels of the cave, but there are only paintings on the first level. 300 m of paintings on the first level. 300 m of the walls are painted. the walls are painted.

The cave paintings inside Pech-Merle The cave paintings inside Pech-Merle

were painted between 15,000 BC-10,000 BC.were painted between 15,000 BC-10,000 BC. The most famous paintings The most famous paintings

within these caves is the within these caves is the

““Spotted Horses with Negative Hand Prints”.Spotted Horses with Negative Hand Prints”.

Paleolithic Cave Paintings

Use of Paintings in Rituals:Use of Paintings in Rituals:

1) Prehistoric hunters often performed 1) Prehistoric hunters often performed “magic” to place spells over their “magic” to place spells over their prey which was intended to make prey which was intended to make them weak and easier to hunt.them weak and easier to hunt.

2) These hunters would perform a 2) These hunters would perform a ceremony in which they would ceremony in which they would paint the animals they intended to paint the animals they intended to hunt on the walls of the cave. They hunt on the walls of the cave. They believed by doing this they were believed by doing this they were capturing some of the animal’s capturing some of the animal’s strength and spirit.strength and spirit.

3) These ceremonies often boosted the 3) These ceremonies often boosted the confidence and the courage of these confidence and the courage of these hunters and they were also hunters and they were also convinced their prey would be convinced their prey would be weaker and easier to kill.weaker and easier to kill.

4) 4) Are there any modern day ceremonies or rituals that compare to this?

Materials and Processes of Cave Materials and Processes of Cave Paintings: Paintings:

1) 1) Pigment:: The colors are very bold and The colors are very bold and crisp looking. Pigments were created crisp looking. Pigments were created by taking lumps of clay or soft stone, by taking lumps of clay or soft stone, grounding them up and mixing them grounding them up and mixing them with animal fat, blood or some other with animal fat, blood or some other medium.medium.

2) 2) Brushes: Most of the images painted Most of the images painted on the cave walls were applied with on the cave walls were applied with the use of fingers but at times some the use of fingers but at times some kind of reed or bristle brush was kind of reed or bristle brush was used as well.used as well.

3) 3) Technique: When creating these cave When creating these cave paintings the outline of the image paintings the outline of the image was scratched 1was scratched 1stst, then the outline , then the outline was painted over with black or was painted over with black or brown pigment to give a crisp edge. brown pigment to give a crisp edge. Finally, the image was filled in with Finally, the image was filled in with shades of color-reds or browns or shades of color-reds or browns or yellows. yellows.

Virtual Tour of Lascaux Caves, France

http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/fr/http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/fr/00.xml00.xml

Stonehenge is a Stonehenge is a prehistoricprehistoric monumentmonument located located in the in the EnglishEnglish county of Wiltshire. county of Wiltshire. ArchaeologistsArchaeologists had believed that the iconic had believed that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, as described in the chronology below, BC, as described in the chronology below, although this has since been advanced to although this has since been advanced to 2400-2200 BC2400-2200 BC

Stonehenge is one of the most remarkable and Stonehenge is one of the most remarkable and certainly the best-known Neolithic certainly the best-known Neolithic monument. Amonument. A henge henge is a circle of huge stones. is a circle of huge stones. With enormous stones rising as high as 17 With enormous stones rising as high as 17 feet and weighing as much as 50 tons, feet and weighing as much as 50 tons, Stonehenge is indeed a massive henge.Stonehenge is indeed a massive henge.

Today, archaeologists believe that Stonehenge Today, archaeologists believe that Stonehenge is a remarkably accurate solar calendar is a remarkably accurate solar calendar constructed in phases beginning about 4,000 constructed in phases beginning about 4,000 years agoyears ago. .

Stonehenge is an early example of Stonehenge is an early example of Post-and-Post-and-lintellintel in which massive posts support in which massive posts support crossbeams or lintels. crossbeams or lintels.

http://www.history.com/topics/stonehenge/http://www.history.com/topics/stonehenge/videos#historys-mysteries-stonehengevideos#historys-mysteries-stonehenge