AP Art History Paleolithic and Neolithic Period definitions.

Comparing works of Art

First apply basic art historical methods by comparing works of art, imagery, materials, and techniques to identify patterns (such as prevalence of transformational animal-human iconography), then use ethnographic approaches to propose hypotheses. Wider generalizations can be established by using cross-cultural comparison.

Neolithic Revolution

was a fundamental change in the way people lived. The shift from hunting & gathering to agriculture led to permanent settlements, the establishment of social classes, and the eventual rise of civilizations

Ceramics

were produced in Iran beginning in the 8th millennium BCE, and refined vessel forms arose from the adoption of the potter's wheel in the 4th millennium BCE.

Trilithon

A trilithon (or trilith) is a structure consisting of two large vertical stones (posts) supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top (lintel).

neolithic

The Period began in different parts of the world at different times, the first being around 10,200 BCE in the Middle East, and lasted until the development of metal tools between 4,500 and 2,000 BCE

paleolithic

This began roughly around 40,000 years ago and lasted through the Pleistocene ice age, the end of which is commonly thought to have occurred near 8,000 B.C. This period was marked by the rise of Homo sapiens and their ever-developing ability to create tools and weapons

Megalithic

a large stone that forms a prehistoric monument (e.g., a menhir) or part of one (e.g., a stone circle or chamber tomb)

Ochre/Ocher

an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically with clay, varying from light yellow to brown or red.

Arts association in the Paleolithic and Neolithic time period

as associated with activities like food production (hunting/gathering/agriculture, animal husbandry) and patterns of behavior like settlement, demonstrations of status, burial.

Twisted/Composite Perspective

convention of representation where part of figure is in profile & another part of same figure is shown frontally.

When was art first created?

created about 77 thousand years ago, in the form of rock paintings and carved natural materials.

Anthropomorphic

described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes

Stratigraphic Dating

geology dealing with the classification, nomenclature, correlation, and interpretation of stratified rocks.

Jomon culture

in Japan (10,500 BCE) were some of the earliest forms of pottery was found.

Mortal and Pestle

is a heavy, blunt tool used to grind things up, such as spices or herbs.

Stele

is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected as a monument, very often for funerary or commemorative purposes.

Post and Lintel

is a system with a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts.

Incised

mark or decorate with a cut or a series of cuts in an object or surface.

Nomadic

means anything that involves moving around a lot

Zoomorphic

relating to a deity or other being conceived of as having the form of an animal.

Geometric Patterns

represents life forms, usually human and animal, were typical 2D creations

Prehistory

s all art produced in preliterate, prehistorical cultures beginning somewhere in very late geological history, and generally continuing until that culture either develops writing or other methods of record-keeping, or makes significant contact with another culture that has, and that makes some record of major historical events.

Art

shows humans' awareness of fundamental, stable phenomena, from macrocosmic (astronomical cycles such as equinoxes and solstices) to microcosmic (exploitation of permanent materials available in local environments like stone, hardened clay, jade)

paleolithic and neolithic art

small human figural sculptures (central Europe); cave paintings (France and Spain); outdoor, monumental assemblages of stone (British Isles). Glimpses into the beginning of ritual life (15,000 BCE) as people attempted to influence and integrate with the natural cycles of the cosmos/promote human and animal fertility.