Recording-2025-01-31T00:12:54.654Z

Prehistoric Overview

• Prehistory: Refers to times before the written word was developed.

  • Changes in geographic and cultural contexts as civilizations developed the ability to write.

Major Eras of Prehistoric Art

• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)

  • Timeframe: Approximately 2,500,000 to 12,000 BP (Before Present).

  • Characteristics: Hunter-gatherer societies, primarily nomadic cultures.

  • Artifacts: Typically small and portable items due to the nomadic lifestyle.

• Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

  • Timeframe: Roughly 12,000 to 4,000 BP.

  • Major Development: Transition to agrarian societies.

    • Improvements in farming technology.

    • Domestication of animals.

    • Establishment of stationary living conditions.

  • Artifacts: Larger structures possible, e.g., Stonehenge.

Bronze Age

• Following the Neolithic, characterized by the ability to mix tin and copper for stronger materials.

  • More detailed studies planned for next week.

Earliest Forms of Art

• Blombos Cave Art

  • Age: Approximately 70,000 BP, located in South Africa.

  • Type: Etchings created by carving into stone.

  • Significance: Credited as one of the earliest forms of human-created art.

• Chauvet Cave Art

  • Age: Approximately 30,000 BP, found in France.

  • Type: Charcoal drawings on cave walls.

  • Significance: Represents what is commonly recognized as prehistoric art.

  • Includes imagery suggesting connections to shamanism—depictions of half-human, half-animal figures.

Example of Prehistoric Art

• Venus and the Sorcerer from Chauvet Cave

  • Symbolizes link between the physical world and the spiritual world.

  • Represents a shamanistic figure combining human and animal characteristics.

American Prehistoric Culture

• Clovis People

  • Age: Approximately 13,000 BP in Texas.

  • Notable Artifact: Clovis points (spear tips, similar to arrowheads).

  • Development of new hunting techniques using atlatls.

Creation Myths and Their Importance

• Emerged as a significant area of study in the early 1900s.

  • Previously viewed as children's stories but later recognized for cultural insights.

• Common Themes:

  • Creation of the Earth, humanity, nations, and significant inventions.

  • The object of creation must exist for it to be a creation myth.

Cultural Insight from Myths

• Visual Elements: Importance of descriptions focusing on visual storytelling.

• Moral Systems: Myths often convey lessons reflecting cultural values.

• Symbol of Water: Frequently appears in many creation myths as a symbol of life and purification.

Examples of Creation Myths

• Japanese Creation Myth: Izanagi and Izanami.

• Native American and African Myths: Several cultural interpretations are relevant.

• Pastafarian Creation Myth: A modern, humorous take on creation.

Creative Writing Assignment: Creation Myth

• Assignment:

  • Write a creation myth incorporating visual elements, a moral lesson, and a reference to water.

  • Minimum word count: 250 words.

  • Include a brief explanation of the moral within the story, discussing its representation and significance.