Prehistoric Art Flashcards
What is the most common themes in cave paintings
Large wild animal (bison, horses, etc.)
What are rare in cave paintings
Humans
How were humans depicted in cave paintings
They were usually schematic in contrast with the more naturalistic animals
What is something else that is seen in cave paintings
Abstract patterns and tracings of the human hand
What is the Neolithic period famous for
Its architecture in the form of monumental graves and alters made of large stone
What were the large stones that were used in the Neolithic period called
Megaliths
What is a Dolmen
It consists of a large flat horizontal stone supported on upright stones
What is a Menhir
A tall single stone
What is a leystone
Is consists of a stone with a hole in the middle through which one looks for the next pointed stone t plot a route
What is the post and lintel method
It is a construction method which uses a lintel (beam) as the horizontal member over a space supported at it’s ends by two cortical posts.
What is a example of the post and libel method
Stonehenge
What is a cromlech
A circular stone construction.
How was paint applied to cave paintings
A little twig that is flattened
Animal hair tied to a stick
Fingers dipped in warm paint and fat mixture
A hollow Bon or reed that releases sucked up paint as the finger is lifted.
What are the two main forms of rack art
Rock engraving and rock paintings
What is another name for rock engravings
Petroglyphs
What is another name for rock paintings
Pictographs
What were the pigments in the paint used in cave paintings
Clay, rocks, plants, charcoal and guano(white bird droppings)
What were the pigments mixed with to create paint
They were mixed with blood, animal fat and other natural liquids
What did the fat do to the paint
It preserved it
What were cave paintings first
They were symbols, single figures and animals in single colour monochrome silhouettes of black or red
What did cave paintings later change to
They became tonal in that dark brown, red brown, white mixture of these colours appeared.
How were animals also portrayed
Showing foreshortening like a buck looking back over his shoulder
What were the subjects of the cave paintings
They were scenes showing activities such as trance dances, rainmaking rituals and hunting activities.
How and why did the subject matter of the cave paintings change
It changed as the settlers arrived in Southern Africa. The cave paintings had more examples or wagons, men of horseback with thins, red coat English soldiers and Zulu impis
Who were the San people
They are short, small people who adapted to the natural conditions which were desert like
How did the San people depict themselves in cave art and why
They elongated their limbs possibly as if they were invisioninh the extra power which was needed for running long distance while hunting.
How were the animals depicted
In very naturalistic proportions and detail.
How were children portrayed
They were seldom found. This could be because an ‘image’ became a spiritual reality and could not be taken lightly
How were petroglyphs created
They were created by drawing with a sharpened rock point onto a rock face.
Where the paintings or the engravings older
The engravings seem to be older
Where are petroglyphs often found
In open plains rather than in shelter.
What are petroglyphs usually (visually)
They are usually symbols or the outlines of animals
How are animals depicted in petroglyphs
There is a lack of descriptive lines, but the animals are remarkably characteristic of their natural proportions, appearance and behaviour
