Sculptural Art of India and Pre-History

Study Notes

Pre-historic art of the world is included
Sculptural art of the Indus Valley Civilization is discussed
Ashutosh Sunil Patil, Asst. Professor of Archaeology at MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar, is the presenter

Five important types/categories of Stone Age sculpture are:
- Ultra-Primitive Humanoid Objects (c.230,000 - 700,000 BCE)
- Primitive Reliefs (from 23,000 BCE onwards)
- Venus Figurines (from 40,000 BCE onwards)
- Carvings of Anthropomorphic Figures (from 30,000 BCE onwards)
- Carvings of Animal Figures (from 33,000 BCE onwards)
Oldest known Stone Age sculpture is the "Venus of Berekhat Ram" (230,000 - 700,000 BCE) found in the Golan Heights
"Venus of Tan-Tan" discovered in Morocco (200,000 - 500,000 BCE)
Venus figurines depict love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory.
Primitive reliefs, such as the Venus of Laussel (c.23,000 BCE) from the Lascaux caves, are lightly colored with ochre, often found in ceremonial areas.
Painting of a Bison (c.15,000 BCE) found in the Altamira Cave, Cantabria, Spain.
Cave Painting in "Hall of the Bulls" at Lascaux (c.17,000 BCE).

Lion Man of Hohlenstein Stadel (38000 BC) is located in the caves of the Altmuhl valley in Germany and is among the oldest anthropomorphic animal carvings in the world.
Shigir Idol (7500 BCE), an unearthed wood carving, is the oldest known wood carving in the world, found near Yekaterinburg (Russia).
Fish God of Lepenski Vir (7000 BCE) is a therianthropic sculpture carved from round sandstone.
Thinker of Cernavoda (5000 BCE) is a terracotta sculpture discovered in 1956.

Swimming Reindeer(c.11,000 BCE), France is considered the oldest work of art in any British Museum.
Kneeling Bull with Vessel(c.3000 BCE) is a Mesopotamian silver metalwork.
Bull of Maikop(c.2500 BCE) is one of four gold and silver bulls from a Neolithic royal burial mound.

The arts of Indus Valley civilization emerged during the second half of the third millennium (Bronze Age).
Forms of art include sculptures, seals, pottery, gold ornaments, and terracotta figures.
Human and animal figures are depicted realistically.
Important sites include Harappa (North) and Mohenjo-Daro (South).
Extensive grid layouts and drainage systems were notable elements at city centers.

Stone statues found on Indus valley sites are fine examples of 3-Dimensional volume.
Key statues include the Bearded Man (Priest Man, Priest-King) found in Mohenjo-Daro.

Bronze casting was widely practiced. The lost wax technique was a common procedure.
Human and animal figures (bull, goat and a dog) are present in the bronze castings.

Thousands of seals were discovered, typically made of steatite and sometimes agate, chert, copper, faience, and terracotta.
Animal figures are a common theme.
Seals were used for commercial purposes and likely as amulets.

Indus Valley pottery is generally made from fine wheel-made wares, with fewer handmade pieces.
Plain pottery is quite common and is generally red clay, often with a thin red or grey 'slip' coating.
Black painted ware features designs in a glossy black paint atop a red slip.

Harappans used a wide variety of ornaments and cosmetics.
Materials included gemstones, metals, bone, and clay.
Necklaces, fillets, armlets, and finger rings were common.
Ornaments also included earrings, head ornaments, and numerous bracelets.
The Harappans had detailed beadwork and created figurines of animals such as monkeys and squirrels.