Paleolithic
A period in human history that is distinguished by the original stone tools
Neolithic
A period of human history in which polished stone implements prevailed and persisted until the use of bronze mental implements
radiocarbon dating
A scientific method of determining the age of an object, based on the presence of the carbon-14 in organic material
megalithic
A large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument
post and lintel
A form of construction in which two upright posts support a horizontal beam
adobe
Made of sun dried clay, usually combined with organic materials
register
A horizontal section of a work, usually a clearly defined band or line
cuneiform
A logo syllabic script that was used to write several languages
votive
An image or object created as a devotional offering to a deity
hierarchy of scale
A technique that is sometimes used in visual arts, in which figures in art are scaled in proportion to their perceived significance
stele
A carved stone slab that is placed upright and often features commemorative imagery and or inscriptions
ziggurat
A stepped pyramid or tower-like structure in a Mesopotamian temple complex
hieroglyph
A type of written script that uses conventionalized signs to represent concepts, sounds, or words
necropolis
A large cemetery, Greek for city of the dead
mastaba
A massive, flat topped rectangular tomb building with slanted side walls, built of either mud brick or cut stone
ka
Statues intended to provide a resting place of the person after death
serdab
A narrow chamber either concealed or accessible only by narrow passage which contains a statue of the deceased
step pyramid
A monumental stone pyramid built using stacked platforms or steps
lamassu
A celestial being bearing a human head, bull's body, sometimes with the horns and the ears of a bull, and wings
sarcophagus
A container for human remains
sunken relief
Carving that is sunken into an area and does not project above the surface
obelisk
A rectangular stone pillar with a pyramid top, usually a landmark or a monument to a person or event
Book of the dead
Ancient text generally written on paprys about how to get into the afterlife
material culture
The materials, objects, and technologies that accompany everyday life
zoomorphic
Having an animal like form
fang ding
Ancient rectangular cauldrons standing on four legs and with two facing handles
taotie
The name given to the composite animal mask frequently found on bronzes
corbeled roof
A roof made of stone slabs that progressively overlap to create a dome, topped with a capstone
shaft grave
A type of deep rectangular burial structure, containing a floor of pebbles, walls of rubble masonry
tholos
A round, vaulted building, often a tomb, shaped like a beehive
fresco
A wall or ceiling painting on wet plaster, wet pigment merges with the plaster, and once hardened the painting becomes an integral part of the wall