Absolute dating
determines a precise span of calendar years in which an artifact was created.
relative dating
Archaeological process of determining relative chronological relationships among excavated objects.
Radiometric Dating
The most accurate method of absolute dating, it measures the degree to which radioactive materials have disintegrated over time. Best used for dating age of organic remains <40,000 years old, not for art. This process destroys part of the subject matter.
Potassium-Argon Dating
for subject matter over 1 million years old, measures decay of radioactive potassium isotope into stable isotope of argon.
Uranium-thorium dating
Better for Cave paintings, measures decay of uranium into thorium.
thermo-luminescence dating
Better for Pottery, measures the irradiation crystal structures subjected to fire.
electron spin resonance
Better for tooth enamel, uses magnetic field and microwave radiation.
abstract/abstraction
reduction of shapes and appearances to basic, recognizable forms that are not intended to be exact replications of nature.
alloy
Mixture of metals such as tin+copper=bronze
cairn
Artificial Hill. EX: ground at Stonehenge.
a mound of earth and stone covering a dolman or passage grave.
composite pose
head facing forward (horns, hooves and eyes), body profile image
dolmen
A prehistoric structure made up of two or more large upright stones supporting a large, flat, horizontal slab or slabs.
electron spin resonance
Method that uses magnetic field and microwave irradiation to date material such as tooth enamel and its surrounding soil.
henge
A circular area enclosed by stones or wood posts set up by Neolithic peoples. It is usually bounded by a ditch and raised embankment.
megalithic architecture
Buildings made using megaliths (large stones).
modeling
In painting, the process of creating the illusion of 3D on a 2D surface by use of light and shade. In painting, the process of molding a 3D form out of a malleable substance.
mortise-and-tenon joints
a method of joining two elements. A projecting pin (tenon) on one element fits snugly into a hole designed for it (mortise) on the other.
passage grave
A prehistoric tomb under a Cairn, reached by a long narrow slab-lined access passageway or passageways.
relief sculpture
A 3D image or design whose flat background surface is carved away to a certain depth, setting off the figure.
sunken relief
the image is carved below the original surface of the background, which is not cut away.
ridgepole
A longitudinal timber at the apex of a roof that supports the upper ends of the rafters.
sculpture in the round
A 3D sculpture that is carved free of any background or block. Compare relief sculpture.
thatch
Plant material such as reeds or straw tied over a framework of poles to make a roof, shelter, or small building.
vault
An arched masonry structure that spans an interior space.
barrel or tunnel vault
an elongated or continuous semicircular vault, shaped like a half cylinder.
corbeled vault
A vault make by projecting courses of stone .
groin or cross vault
a vault created by the intersection of two barrel vaults of equal size which creates four side compartments of identical size and shape.
quadrant vault
a half-barrel vault
rib vault
A groin vault with ribs (extra masonry) demarcating the junctions. Ribs may function to reinforce the groins or may be purely decorative.
wattle and daub
A wall construction method combining upright branches, woven with twigs (wattles) and plastered or filled with clay or mud (daub).
How might the name an object has been given, such as the Woman from Willendorf, alter the way we understand it?
Giving the object a name such as "Woman from Willendorf," may influence the viewer to see the sculpure as an object generalizing their culture rather than a person or individual.
Why was art a necessity for prehistoric people? What human need did prehistoric art fulfill?
Art was a necessity for prehistoric people because it was believed to be used as a form of communication, expecially for hunters. Most art depicted wild game, some believe it to helped to teach tribe member how to become successful hunters.
Describe the images in the prehistoric painting, Bird-Headed Man with Bison, and discuss its meaning(s) and significance.
This cave painting is significant because it is the only one in the cave at Lascaux that seems to illustrate a story. There is a hunter, a bison and a rhinoceros in the frame. The hunter is lying down, the disemboweld bison stands over him, and the Rhino
Agriculture
What major advancement sets apart the Neolithic era from the Paleolithic?
Which caves contain the famous Hall of the Bulls?
Lascaux, France
architecture
The remains at Skara Brae are _____.
game animals
The majority of images painted in the caves are of _____.
Paleolithic
Cuneiform or hieroglyphic writing was developed in the ______ era.
Where were the first cave paintings discovered in the late 1800's?
Altamira, Spain
The Woman from Willendorf is composed of ________ shapes that make it seem much larger than its actual 4 3/8 inch height.
rounded
Old
Paleolithic literally means "_______ Stone Age.
Neolithic mound
Stonehenge exemplifies a _____.
A person who acted as a communicator to the spirit world in prehistoric cultures is called a _____.
shaman
The Stone Age
Period of Early human development.
Divided into two parts: Neolithic and Paleolithic.
Named after stone tools, weapons and figures from the era.
The Paleolithic Age
Homo sapiens sapiens emerged from this era, outlasted neanderthals because higher mental function.
Shelter or Architecture:
durable shelter in villages did not emerge until early neolithic period.
Woman from Willendorf
Austria. c. 24,000 BCE. Limestone, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna
Woman from Dolni vestonice
Moravia, Csech Republic, 23,000 BCE. Fired clay.
Woman from Brassempouy
Grotte du Pape, Brassempouy, Landes, France c. 30,000 BCE. Ivory
The Power of Naming
Words can reveal a view of the world and shape our thinking. Our ability to interpret is easily compromised by distracting labels.
The meaning of cave paintings:
In constant debate, but agreement that decorated caves must have had a special meaning because people returned to them time after time over many generations.
Chauvet Cave
One of the earliest known sites of prehistoric cave paintings.
Southeastern France.
Lascaux cave
Home to best-known cave paintings.
Home to "Hall of Bulls".
Southern France.
Closed to public.
Altamira Cave
Cantabrian Mountains, Spain.
Paintings use shape of the rocks for sculptural effects.
Cave Sculptures
Implement relief sculpture, using:existing rock contours, or modeling with clay.
Technique: Prehistoric Wall Painting
Artist chew on a piece of charcoal and dilute with water and saliva. They turn themselves into a human spray can and blow paint onto cave walls.
Other painting techniques were drawing with fingers or blocks of ocher, and using a paintbrush made of hair or
Neolithic Period
Beginning of agriculture, architecture, and pottery making.
Intentional House Burning
Neolithic ritual of "killing" the house.
Stonehenge
Salsibury Plain, Wiltshire, England c. 2900-1500 BCE.
Megalith monument, site of death and burial ceremonies.
altamira, spain
where the first cave paintings were discovered in the late 1800s
capstone
top rock on a dolmen
Bird-headed man with bison
Lascaux Cave; painting tells a story, stick figure man lying on the ground with spear, looming bison, rhino running away