Prehistoric art information

Prehistoric art

The Venus of Hohle Fels, dated circa 41,000 BP. Germany

Prehistoric painting of rhinoceroses in the Chauvet Cave, France, dated circa 35,000 BP

In the history of art, prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate, prehistorical cultures beginning somewhere in very late geological history, and generally continuing until that culture either develops writing or other methods of record-keeping, or makes significant contact with another culture that has, and that makes some record of major historical events. At this point ancient art begins, for the older literate cultures. The end-date for what is covered by the term thus varies greatly between different parts of the world.^[a]

The earliest human artifacts showing evidence of workmanship with an artistic purpose are the subject of some debate. It is clear that such workmanship existed 40,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic era, although it is quite possible that it began earlier. In September 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the earliest known drawing by Homo sapiens, which is estimated to be 73,000 years old, much earlier than the 43,000 years old artifacts understood to be the earliest known modern human drawings found previously.^[2]

Engraved shells created by Homo erectus dating as far back as 500,000 years ago^[3] have been found, although experts disagree on whether these engravings can be properly classified as 'art'.^[4] From the Upper Paleolithic through to the Mesolithic, cave paintings and portable art such as figurines and beads predominated, with decorative figured workings also seen on some utilitarian objects. In the Neolithic evidence of early pottery appeared, as did sculpture and the construction of megaliths. Early rock art also first appeared during this period. The advent of metalworking in the Bronze Age brought additional media available for use in making art, an increase in stylistic diversity, and the creation of objects that did not have any obvious function other than art. It also saw the development in some areas of artisans, a class of people specializing in the production of art, as well as early writing systems. By the Iron Age, civilizations with writing had arisen from Ancient Egypt to Ancient China.

Many indigenous peoples from around the world continued to produce artistic works distinctive to their geographic area and culture, until exploration and commerce brought record-keeping methods to them. Some cultures, notably the Maya civilization, independently developed writing during the time they flourished, which was then later lost. These cultures may be classified as prehistoric, especially if their writing systems have not been deciphered.

^ A. T. L. 1967, p. 95.
^ Cite error: The named reference NYT-20180912 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Homo erectus at Trinil on Java used shells for tool production and engraving". Nature.
^ "Shell 'art' made 300,000 years before humans evolved – New Scientist". New Scientist.

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

[FOOTNOTEA._T._L.196795-1] A. T. L. 1967, p. 95.

[NYT-20180912-3] Cite error: The named reference NYT-20180912 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] "Homo erectus at Trinil on Java used shells for tool production and engraving". Nature.

[5] "Shell 'art' made 300,000 years before humans evolved – New Scientist". New Scientist.

Prehistoric art information

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Prehistoric art

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Finnish art

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Prehistoric technology

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Japanese Prehistoric Art

Portable art

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Prehistoric Egypt

Art of the Upper Paleolithic

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Prehistoric music

History of art
Periods and movements Prehistoric Ancient Medieval Pre-Romanesque Romanesque Gothic Renaissance Mannerism Baroque Rococo Neoclassicism Revivalism Romanticism Realism Pre-Raphaelites Modern Impressionism Symbolism Decorative Post-Impressionism Art Nouveau Fauvism Expressionism Cubism Contemporary Postmodern Conceptualism Pop Minimalism
Regions Art of the Middle East Mesopotamian Egyptian Hittite Persian Arabian South Arabian Phoenician Ottoman Art of Central Asia Art of East Asia Chinese Hong Kong Taiwan Japanese Korean Tibetan Art of South Asia Indian Bhutanese Newar Art of Southeast Asia Indonesian Filipino Vietnamese Thai Myanmar Malaysian Cambodian Khmer Lao Singaporean Bruneian Art of Europe Minoan Cycladic Etruscan Dacian Celtic Scythian Greek Hellenistic Iberian Roman Byzantine Anglo-Saxon Ottonian Viking Rus Art of Africa Igbo Yoruba Benin Kuba Luba Art of the Americas Pre-Columbian Maya Muisca Inuit Art of Oceania Australian Cook Islands Hawaiian Papuan
Religions Buddhist Christian Catholic Protestant Hindu Islamic Jain Manichaean Sikh Taoist Vodou Vodun
Techniques Sculpture Painting Pottery Calligraphy Architecture Photography Graphic arts Digital art
Types Abstract Art history Art movement List Figurative Funerary Naïve Narrative Naturalist
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