Examining & Examining & ComparingComparing

Prehistoric ArtPrehistoric Art

Why would early peoples create Why would early peoples create art? art?

►As we go through the slides think about As we go through the slides think about the following ideas: the following ideas: What are the early peoples seeing every What are the early peoples seeing every

day? day? What tools are they using to create art? What tools are they using to create art? How would they be able to create art deep How would they be able to create art deep

inside a cave? inside a cave? Do early peoples believe in the afterlife? Do early peoples believe in the afterlife? Do early peoples have leaders or important Do early peoples have leaders or important

people?people?

Background: Ice Ages Background: Ice Ages

►What was the Ice Age?What was the Ice Age? The Pleistocene period is from 1 million to The Pleistocene period is from 1 million to

20,000 years ago.20,000 years ago. During this period ice ages alternated with During this period ice ages alternated with

warm periods roughly every 100,000 years warm periods roughly every 100,000 years The regions near the equator experienced The regions near the equator experienced

rainy conditions.rainy conditions. The ocean levels rose and fell as the ice The ocean levels rose and fell as the ice

ages came and wentages came and went

Background: Homo SapiensBackground: Homo Sapiens

►Modern man (Modern man (homo sapien sapienhomo sapien sapien) is ) is believed to be roughly 100,000 years believed to be roughly 100,000 years oldold

►To historians, this period is known as To historians, this period is known as the Paleolithic (or Old Stone Age)the Paleolithic (or Old Stone Age)

►People of this early age made tools out People of this early age made tools out of things they found around them of things they found around them (stones, bones, sticks)(stones, bones, sticks)

Background: Animals of the last Background: Animals of the last Ice AgeIce Age

►People living during the last ice age People living during the last ice age had to make tools in order to help had to make tools in order to help them survive. them survive.

►They also had to find food.They also had to find food.

Finding foodFinding food

Animals of the Ice AgeAnimals of the Ice Age

Four Reasons for Creating Four Reasons for Creating Paleolithic ArtPaleolithic Art

►1. For decoration: The artwork was 1. For decoration: The artwork was created as decoration for a dwelling, a created as decoration for a dwelling, a tool, or a person.tool, or a person.

Four Reasons for Creating Four Reasons for Creating Paleolithic ArtPaleolithic Art

►2. For use in a ritual or ceremony: The 2. For use in a ritual or ceremony: The artwork was created to be used in an artwork was created to be used in an important ritual or ceremony, such as important ritual or ceremony, such as an initiation into adulthood.an initiation into adulthood.

Four Reasons for Creating Four Reasons for Creating Paleolithic Art cont…Paleolithic Art cont…

►3. To represent memorable events: 3. To represent memorable events: The artwork was created to record or The artwork was created to record or depict an important or memorable depict an important or memorable event.event.

Four Reasons for Creating Four Reasons for Creating Paleolithic ArtPaleolithic Art

►4. To honor or influence the spirit 4. To honor or influence the spirit world: The artwork was created to world: The artwork was created to honor a God, Goddess, or spirits, or to honor a God, Goddess, or spirits, or to ask them to fulfill a wish or hopeask them to fulfill a wish or hope

What art did early people What art did early people create? create?

What does this tell us about What does this tell us about them?them?

►As we go through the next slides, write As we go through the next slides, write down the following:down the following: The approximate date of the artThe approximate date of the art Where it was foundWhere it was found What would the purpose be in making the What would the purpose be in making the

art?art?

Slide #1aSlide #1a

► Lascaux cave, France, 11,000 to 18,000 yrs ago, Wall paintingLascaux cave, France, 11,000 to 18,000 yrs ago, Wall painting

Slide Slide #1b#1b

► Lascaux cave. France. Approx. 11,000-18,000 years ago, wall Lascaux cave. France. Approx. 11,000-18,000 years ago, wall painting. painting.

Slide #2Slide #2

► Bruniquel Bruniquel cave.cave.

► France. France. ► Approx. 18,000 Approx. 18,000

years ago.years ago.► Antler boneAntler bone

Slide #3aSlide #3a

►Pahi, TanzaniaPahi, Tanzania►Rock artRock art

Slide #3bSlide #3b

Pahi cave.

Tanzania.

30,000-9,000 years ago

Wall paintings

Slide #4Slide #4

►Tuc’ Tuc’ D’Audoubert D’Audoubert cave.cave.

►France.France.►10,000-14,000 10,000-14,000

years agoyears ago►Clay sculptureClay sculpture

Slide #5aSlide #5a

►Malta, eastern SiberiaMalta, eastern Siberia►15,000 years ago15,000 years ago► IvoryIvory

Slide #5bSlide #5b

►Kostenki, RussiaKostenki, Russia►23,000-21,000 years 23,000-21,000 years

agoago► IvoryIvory

Slide #6aSlide #6a

► Lascaux cave, France, approx. 17,000 years ago, wall paintingLascaux cave, France, approx. 17,000 years ago, wall painting

Slide #6bSlide #6b

►Enlene, Enlene, France.France.

►Approx. Approx. 10,000 10,000 years agoyears ago

►Antler bone.Antler bone.

Weiner Dog ArtWeiner Dog Artby Gary Larsonby Gary Larson

► Cave ArtCave Art► Location: Southern FranceLocation: Southern France

► 15,000 BCE15,000 BCE

► In 1909, paleontologist Arnold Zimmerman stumbled In 1909, paleontologist Arnold Zimmerman stumbled across this Paleolithic cave painting in southern France. across this Paleolithic cave painting in southern France. It is undoubtedly the earliest known form of wiener It is undoubtedly the earliest known form of wiener dog art, estimated to be around 17,000 years old. dog art, estimated to be around 17,000 years old.

► The drawing is a clear depiction of Weenus Giganticus, The drawing is a clear depiction of Weenus Giganticus, commonly known as the wooly wiener dog. A creature commonly known as the wooly wiener dog. A creature that according to Professor Zimmerman, “must have that according to Professor Zimmerman, “must have struck utter terror in the hearts of primitive mail struck utter terror in the hearts of primitive mail carriers.”carriers.”

Slide #7Slide #7

Weiner Dog ArtWeiner Dog Artcont… cont… by Gary Larsonby Gary Larson

► Zimmerman’s discovery ultimately brought Zimmerman’s discovery ultimately brought him only grief, as other scientists began to him only grief, as other scientists began to question the legitimacy of this cave painting. question the legitimacy of this cave painting.

► Special but inconclusive tests indicated the Special but inconclusive tests indicated the actual “paint” contained chemicals closely actual “paint” contained chemicals closely akin to a Magic Marker or Sharpie.akin to a Magic Marker or Sharpie.

► The controversy eventually ebbed and The controversy eventually ebbed and Zimmerman moved on in his career to become Zimmerman moved on in his career to become a staunch supporter of Piltdown man.a staunch supporter of Piltdown man.

BibliographyBibliography

► The Virtual Museum , Canada The Virtual Museum , Canada http://www.sfu.museum/journey/04secondarhttp://www.sfu.museum/journey/04secondary/index.phpy/index.php

► Lascaux Cave Photos Lascaux Cave Photos http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/flint/archart.htmlhttp://museums.ncl.ac.uk/flint/archart.html

► Tanzania Wall Art Tanzania Wall Art http://www.roughguides.com/website/travel/http://www.roughguides.com/website/travel/destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=93destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=93&xid=idh460169072_0266&xid=idh460169072_0266

►Gary Larson, Gary Larson, The FarsideThe Farside. 2000.. 2000.