Global Prehistory Vocab and ID

anthropomorphic

attributing human characteristics or qualities to objects, animals, or gods

art mobilier

small, movable art objects, especially primitive or prehistoric works of art.

Beaker/Bushel

used to hold liquids

composite view/twisted perspective

A convention of representation in which part of a figure is shown in profile and another part of the same figure is shown frontally

cong

a tubular object with a circular hole cut into a square-like cross section

Heel Stone, Stonehenge

Focus of the Solstice Sunrise at Stonehenge

Henge

An arrangement of megalithic stones in a circle, often surrounded by a ditch.

hierarchy of scale

An artistic convention in which greater size indicates greater importance.

ibex

wild goat

Megaliths

Structures and complexes of very large stones constructed for ceremonial and religious purposes in Neolithic times.

Menhirs

single stone standing upright

mortise and tenon joint

A joinery technique where the cut end (tenon) from one board fits into the matching opening (mortise) of another.

Neolithic

The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution. It follows the Paleolithic period.

ocher

an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically with clay, varying from light yellow to brown or red.

Paleolithic

The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans. It predates the Neolithic period.

post and lintel construction

in architecture, a horizontal beam supported by a post at either end

registers/friezes

one of a series of superimposed bands or friezes in a pictorial narrative, or the particular levels on which motifs are placed

Sacrum

bone formed from five vertebrae fused together near the base of the spinal column

Sarsens

the largest stones at Stonehenge that form the U-shaped inner ring as well as the larger circular ring of sandstone megaliths; they were transported to the site from about 20 miles away

Scarification

The intentional creation of scars on some part or parts of the body, often done as part of an initiation ceremony.

Shamanism

The practice of identifying special individuals (shamans) who will interact with spirits for the benefit of the community.

Stele

A carved stone slab used to mark graves or to commemorate historical events.

Stratigraphic archaeology

recording precisely each level and location of all objects

Trilithon

a pair of monoliths topped with a lintel

UNESCO World Heritage Site

A property considered by the World Heritage Committee to have outstanding universal value. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) encourages the protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage that is considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Zoomorphic

having elements of animal shapes

Apollo 11 Stones

Paleolithic. Namibia. c. 25,500-25,300 B.C.E. Charcoal on stone.

Great Hall of the Bulls

Lascaux, France

Paleolithic Europe

15,000-13,000 B.C.E

Rock Painting

Camelid sacrum in the shape of a canine

Mesolithic. Tequixquiac, central Mexico. 14,000-7000 B.C.E. Bone.

Running Horned Woman

Neolithic. Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria. 6000-4000 B.C.E. Pigment on rock.

Beaker with Ibex Motifs

Neolithic. Susa, Iran. 4200-3500 B.C.E. Painted terra cotta.

Anthropomorphic Stele

Neolithic. Arabian Peninsula. Fourth millennium B.C.E. Sandstone.

Jade Cong

Neolithic. Liangzhu, China. 3300-2200 BCE. Carved jade.

Stonehenge

Wiltshire, UK. Neolithic Europe. c. 2500-1600 B.C.E. Sandstone.

The Ambum Stone

Bronze Age. Ambum Valley, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. c. 1500 B.C.E. Greywacke.

Tlatilco female figurine

Bronze Age. Central Mexico, site of Tlatilco. 1200-900 B.C.E. Ceramic.

Lapita Terra Cotta Fragment

Bronze Age. Solomon Islands, Reef Islands. 1000 BCE. Terra cotta (incised)