Neolithic Art

Question 1

Agrarian

Answer 1

a society based on farming, or any community whose economy is based on producing and maintaining crops and farmland.

Question 2

Ahu

Answer 2

a representative ceremonial centers of ancient Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Also, platforms that were built to display the moai.

Question 3

Barrow

Answer 3

an ancient burial place covered with a large mound of earth. Barrows were constructed in England from Neolithic (c. 4000 bc) until late pre-Christian (c. ad 600) times.

Question 4

Barrow

Answer 4

an ancient burial place covered with a large mound of earth. Barrows were constructed in England from Neolithic (c. 4000 bc) until late pre-Christian (c. ad 600) times.

Question 5

Corbel (or Corbelling)

Answer 5

structural pieces of stone, wood, or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight. This construction method is used to span a space or void in a structure, such as an entranceway in a wall or as the span of a bridge.

Question 6

Cromlech

Answer 6

a circle of vertically arranged large stones, which form a more complex megalithic group, often built around a tomb. They usually date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Some cromlechs have a complicated arrangement and very large sizes. Many believe they were important in astronomical observations.

Question 7

Dolmen

Answer 7

a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or “table”. Most date from the early Neolithic period and were sometimes covered with earth or smaller stones to form a tumulus.

Question 8

Dolerite

Answer 8

basalt-like stone used in the manufacture of Neolithic axes and tools.

Question 9

Henge

Answer 9

a Neolithic monument of the British Isles, consisting of a circular area enclosed by a bank and ditch and often containing additional features including one or more circles of upright stone or wood pillars: probably used for ritual purposes or for marking astronomical events, as solstices and equinoxes.

Question 10

Megalith

Answer 10

literally big stone from the Greek “Megas” meaning great and lithos, stone. A large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones.

Question 11

Menhir

Answer 11

a large human-made upright stone, typically dating from the European middle Bronze Age. They can be found individually as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs’ size can vary considerably, but they often taper toward the top.

Question 12

Moai

Answer 12

monolithic images of deified ancestors carved by the Rapa Nui people from volcanic basalt that collect and distribute mana.

Question 13

Neolithic

Answer 13

the ‘New Stone Age’ - This period saw the development of agriculture, pottery, polished stone axes, megalithic structures, and the manufacture of pottery and textiles: commonly thought to have begun around 9000 – 8000 BCE.

Question 14

Orthostat

Answer 14

any upright stone but often used to refer to the erect side slabs used in a megalithic structure.

Question 15

Patina

Answer 15

The visible alterations to the surface of the artifact with respect to the properties concerning color, luster, and texture. The patina is a naturally occurring process resulting from weathering, such as heat and cold, wind-driven particles, moisture, water action, and naturally occurring geochemical processes. Patina gives the artifact its “old look”. An important and excellent indicator of an artifact’s originality.

Question 16

Post and Lintel

Answer 16

(also called prop and lintel or a trabeated system) is a building system where strong horizontal elements are held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces between them.

Question 17

Sarson

Answer 17

a large sandstone boulder of a kind that occurs on the chalk downs of southern England. Such stones were used in constructing Stonehenge and other prehistoric monuments.

Question 18

Stele

Answer 18

(occasionally stela) a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected in the ancient world as a monument. The surface often has text, ornamentation, or both. These may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted.

Question 19

Taula

Answer 19

A straight and upright standing stone that is topped with another horizontal stone forming a “T” shape.

Question 20

Tholos

Answer 20

a stone dome tomb from the Bronze Age made on the plan of the circle. It is a kind of chamber topped with a dome with a long passage leading to it.

Question 21

Trilithon

Answer 21

a structure consisting of two large vertical stones supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top. It is commonly used in the context of megalithic monuments.