Unit 1 VOCABULARY: Global Prehistory, 30,000 - 500 BCE

What is shamanism?

A religion where followers believe that people called shamans can interact and communicate with the spirit world and heal the sick.

What is a humanoid?

An appearance or character resembling that of a human.

What is twisted perspective?

A perspective that shows most of the animals body in profile view, but turns a portion of the head so it seems to be pointing directly at the viewer.

What is an Ibex?

A species of wild goat distinguished by the male's large curved horns.

What is a motif?

A decorative design or pattern

What is a camelid?

A now extinct member of the camelidae family (along with alpacas, llamas, and camels).

What is a sacrum?

The large triangular bone at the base of the spine

What does it mean for something to be naturalistic?

To be derived from real life or nature or imitating it very closely

What does it mean for something to be stylized?

Art that is created in a non-naturalistic way. Instead of looking realistic it is often simplified or abstracted

What does it mean for something to be anthropomorphic?

It describes a non-human thing that has human characteristics

What is relief (low vs. high)?

Relief is a form of sculpture that consists of raised forms that project from a flat background. Low relief projects raise only slightly from the flat background and vice versa

What is a stele?

A vertical stone monument or marker, often inscribed with text and relief carving

What does it mean for something to be high relief?

It projects far from the flat background

What does it mean for something to be low relief?

It projects only slightly from the flat background

What are exogenous materials?

Materials that originated elsewhere (different area from where the work of art was created/discovered)

What is a Cong?

Hollow, squared tubes made of jade found in the Liangzhu culture of China

What is a megalith?

A large stone that was used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument

What is a monolith?

A large single upright block of stone that typically serves as a pillar or monument

What is a Henge?

A prehistoric monument consisting of a circle of stone or wooden uprights

What is a Trilithon?

An ancient stone monument consisting of two upright megaliths carrying a third as a lintel

What is a Mortise and tenon?

A mortise and tenon joint connects two pieces of wood or other material to create strong and stable joints

What is a Post and lintel?

An architectural construction based on vertical supports and horizontal beams