Neolithic and Paleolithic Art
Content Curation By: Erin Samuels
Art during the Neolithic and Paleolithic Era was used as a source off self-expression, practical use, and worship. Due to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle they participated in, most forms of art were small enough to be placed in small pouches or otherwise stored in a definite space. As time moved away from hunter-gatherer style of life, art evolved in size and in style. What types of art were prevalent during these pre-historic times?
Neolithic Pottery
This form of pottery took place in the Mesolithic and Neolithic era.
This helped them move more progressively from the Neolithic to the Paleolithic time period. They were able to make larger pottery since they were no longer nomadic and could store food in one designated place.
This happened gradually due to the Neolithic humans needing a new way of life and a more settled life.
Plastered Neolithic Skulls
During the Neolithic era, plaster skulls were becoming more and more popular. Most of the Neolithic humans in Jericho participated in creating the plaster skulls. The skulls may have had some purpose for the people in Jericho, whether it be anything from religious reasons to artistic expression.
If it was for religious reasons it may have been to keep the spirits of the deceased from coming to haunt them. Also, it could have been to commemorate dead loved ones.
Neolithic Cave Art
The cave art was created around 20,000 years ago.
Since the art was created so long ago there is no way or the archeologists to find a direct person to claim as the artist. But based on location and carbon dating, it was dated back to prehistoric people living in France.
The paleolithic people in France at the time could have been recording the daily things they saw or did. The fact that many of the cave art carved were of animals and tools, it was assumed that hunting and certain animals were a big part of their life. The cave art was created to document what was going on in Paleolithic times as a form of expression.
OPCVL Folder
All 3 forms in 1 folder. Also includes original facts and thesis document.