Modern Humans of the Upper Palaeolithic Flashcards
Compare parietal art and mobiliary art.
Parietal art–art on cave walls
Mobiliary art– art that is portable (Ex: venus figurines and animal carvings)
True or false? Cave painting are difficult to date, except for minerals such as ochre.
False; Cave painting are difficult to date, especially for minerals such as ochre.
What species is responsible for the wall art in the El Castillo Cave in Spain? What dating method was used to date this site to at least 40 800 y/o?
(1) Anatomically modern humans and Neandertals were living in this area at the same time so it is uncertain who created these
(2) Absolute dating method (Uranium-thorium dating) used on CaCO3 buildup over paintings that contained trace amounts of Uranium
The Chauvet Cave in France has been termed
the “Cave of Forgotten Dreams”. What is the significance of this site?
Hint: three reasons
Discovered in 1994; hundreds of images (wall art) including stenciled handprints and animals
Absolute dating reveals at least two occupations
Cave artists may have been mostly women; evidence based on the length of fingers of the handprints
What dating method was used on the charcoal pigments in the Chauvet Cave in France?
AMS Radiocarbon dating
How does the art in the “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” compare to the wall art in later sites?
Lots of depictions of carnivores, which is unusual compared to later works of mostly herbivores
What drawing technique was used at the Lascaux, France site?
Uses bulges in cave to give art definition or “3D” look; used a variety of methods including hand drawing and mouth spray paint
What light-source artifact was found at the Lascaux, France site?
17 000 y/o oil lamp made of standstone that used deer fat as fuel and moss or juniper as a wick
True or false? Art in Asia, Europe, and Africa have different styles.
True
Where is the oldest known modern human cave painting site?
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Describe the Altamira, Spain cave painting site.
Red and black bison painted using charcoal and ochre; dated as early as 36 000 ya with Uranium-thorium dating; many occupations
What sites were the oldest Venus figurines found in order of oldest to latest.
Hohle Fels, Germany (35000 ya)
Dolni Vestorice, Czech Republic (26 000ya)
Willendorf, Austria (25 000ya)
Describe the general characteristics of Venus figurines.
Large breasts and abdomen, usually lack facial features, sometimes had holes for wearing as ornaments, female
What are some of the possible meaning of Venus figurines?
Pregnant women or desire body type; signs of fertility, women’s view of their own bodies
What site was the Venus with the earliest depiction of the human face found?
Brassempouy, France; termed “La Dame a la Capuche”; 28 000 ya
What did the studies of Patricia Rice in 1981 observe about the Venus figurines?
Examined 188 Venus figurines and concluded that there are a variety of body types representing all stages of life (youth, pregnant + nonpregant adult, and elderly)
What are Aurignacian figurines?
Ivory animal figurines found in South-West Germamy
Describe the cave wall sculpture at the Laussel, France site.
Bas relief scultpure of women holding a bison horn with B lines; carved into a limestone rock shelter
What is the significance of the mobilary art found at the Hohlenstein site in southwest Germany?
Lion man ivory figurine; head of lion and body of a man
Modern humans are credited as the first to produce musical instruments. What was this first technology?
Bone and ivory flutes
How would you describe Upper Palaeolithic burials?
Elaborate
What can be interpreted about the status of the individuals buried at the Sungir site in Russia?
Elderly man and two children buried head to head; high status individuals buried with much wealth in grave goods (red ochre, thousands of beads, 25 mammoth ivory bracelets, and a pendent, belt with perforated fox teeth, ivory pin holding cloak, small ivory sculpture, and a human femur filled with red ochre)
How long is it estimated to make the ornamental beads often found as grave goods?
45-60 minutes per bead
What may have given the individuals buried at the Sunghir site in Russia status?
Congenital deformities that would affect appearance may have given them status
It was originally thought that the Dolni Vestonice site in Czech Republic was a ____ _____ recreation until it was later discovered all three individuals were _____.
birth scene; male
Modern humans would travel 100 km for materials while Neandertals did not travel as far. What does this suggest?
Possible trading networks among modern humans
