Prehistory: Refers to times before the written word was developed.
Changes in geographic and cultural contexts as civilizations developed the ability to write.
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.
Following the Neolithic, characterized by the ability to mix tin and copper for stronger materials.
More detailed studies planned for next week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.