Prehistoric Art and Early Civilizations

Study Notes

Prehistoric Art

Apollo 11 Stones: Earliest rock paintings and engravings in Africa, dating around 25,000–25,300 B.C.E. Crafted with charcoal on stone.
Great Hall of Bulls: Located in Lascaux, France, from 15,000–13,000 B.C.E. Features twisted perspective, showcasing early artistic expression through rock painting.
Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine: Found in Tequixquiac, central Mexico, dating between 14,000–7,000 B.C.E. Bone carving highlights early environmental manipulation through subtractive techniques.
Running Horned Women: From Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria, created between 6,000–4,000 B.C.E. It uses contrasting mediums and depicts a larger female figure with transparent qualities, enhancing visual depth.

Neolithic and Early Civilizations

Beaker with Ibex Motifs: Originating from Susan, Iran, around 4,200–3,500 B.C.E. It is an intricate terra cotta piece showcasing animals, possibly reflecting the importance of hunting.
Anthropomorphic Stele: Carved sandstone figure from the Arabian Peninsula, created in the fourth millennium B.C.E. Represents a stylized human form with tool-carriers, reflecting early societal roles.
Jade Cong: Excavated in Liangzhu, China, dating from 3,300–2,200 B.C.E. Carvings suggest spiritual significance, highlighting early craftsmanship in jade.
Stonehenge: Located in Wiltshire, U.K., Neolithic construction (c. 2,500–1,600 B.C.E.) made of sandstone, shrouded in mystery regarding its purpose and construction techniques.

Pacific and Mesoamerican Art

The Ambum Stone: A greywacke sculpture from Ambum Valley, Papua New Guinea (c. 1,500 B.C.E.), possibly representing an anteater; it embodies advanced subtractive sculpting techniques.
Tlatilco Female Figurine: From Tlatico, central Mexico, dating between 1,200–900 B.C.E. Reflects artistic foreshadowing of developing Mesoamerican civilizations.
Terra Cotta Fragment: From the Solomon Islands, Reef Islands, (1,000 B.C.E.). Features a human face in complex geometric designs, marking early Lapita pottery art.

Sumerian and Egyptian Art

White Temple and its Ziggurat: Found in Uruk, modern-day Iraq, dating c. 3,500–3,000 B.C.E. Built with mud brick, the geometric design aligned to cardinal directions served various functional rooms, including an elevated cella for elite worshippers.
Palette of King Narmer: An archaeological artifact from Pre-dynastic Egypt (c. 3,000–2,920 B.C.E.) showcasing some of the earliest hieroglyphics, symbolizing the unification of Egypt.
Statue of Votive Figures: From the Square Temple at Eshnunna, Sumeria (c. 2,700 B.C.E.), made of gypsum, shell, and black limestone, these figures acted as perpetual prayer surrogates for the donor.
Seated Scribe: Found in Saqqara, Egypt, Old Kingdom (c. 2,620–2,500 B.C.E.). This painted limestone sculpture exemplifies ancient Egyptian naturalism, representing a rare glimpse of realism in their art.

Description

Explore the fascinating world of prehistoric art and early civilizations through this quiz. From the Apollo 11 Stones to the Great Hall of Bulls, discover how early humans expressed their creativity. Test your knowledge of significant artifacts and their cultural significance in human history.