Global Prehistory Lecture Notes

GLOBAL PREHISTORY

• Human Expression: Existed across the globe, with Africa and Asia preceding and influencing other areas.
• Art as Clue: Art provides insights into human culture at the dawn of civilization.

PALEOLITHIC ERA

• Survival: Small groups of hunter-gatherers prioritized sheer survival.
• Art Objects: Possibly ritualistic and symbolic works intended to encourage availability of food sources (flora and fauna).
• Cave Art: Included small sculptures and monumental paintings, incised designs, and reliefs found in caves.

APOLLO 11 STONES (Namibia, c. 25,500-25,300 BCE)

• Content/Visual: Animals shown in strict profile for identification (head, tail, all four legs visible). Represents a double of the animal.
  • Painted using charcoal, ocher, and white.
  • Included possible representation of therianthropes (shapeshifters) suggesting shamanistic beliefs.
• Visual Characteristics: Utilizes positive and negative space without details.

CONTEXT OF APOLLO 11 STONES

• Oldest Art: Found in Africa, indicating that symbolic art predates written text.
• Cave Usage: Apollo 11 cave used for approximately 100,000 years, showing the nomadic lifestyle.
• Universal Subject: Animal representation found across various cultures.

LASCAUX CAVES (15,000-13,000 BCE)

• Discovery: Found by Marcel Ravidat in 1940.
• Art Features: Depicts a rare male figure amidst highly realistic animal representations.
  • Notable for the distorted and angry depiction of a bison; the male figure is less detailed, possibly a shaman.

FUNCTION OF LASCAUX CAVES ART

• Hunting Magic: Theories suggest art guaranteed successful hunts; gouges indicate spears were thrown at depicted animals.
• Narratives: Images may convey stories without written text.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LASCAUX ART

• Techniques: Charcoal and powdered pigments used for contours.
• Composite Views: Animals drawn in profile, while some exhibit twisted perspective for completeness.