Mrs. Lefler's AP/Honors Art History

Prehistory and Prehistoric Art * Outline

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-Hall of Bulls, c14,000-12,000 BCE
• Lascaux, France-Well Scene, c15,000-10,000 BCE

SCULPTURE-examples predate painting and drawing in archaeological record

• Venus of Willendorf, c30,000-25,000 BCE
• Venus of Laussel, c23,000-20,000 BCE
• Woman from Brassempouy, c22,000 BCE
• Bison, c13,000BCE

Mesolithic Period

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, c3,000-18,000 BCE

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