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Paleolithic art is found in caves as drawn pictures on cave walls. Most commonly shown are pictures of animals such as bison, deer and horses and it is currently believed that these animals were extremely important for human survival. Although the animals still have a high level of expression and movement, due to the focus being more on the movement of the animal than on detailed drawing of the animal. Art was typically made from natural materials such as pigments, stone and charcoal.
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Upper Paleolithic (Gravettian), c. 25,000 BCE, Limestone relief with traces of red ochre, 18.1 inches tall (about 1.5 feet), Musée d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France This relief sculpture is frequently associated with fertility because of the exaggerated portrayal of the female form. The horn figure is holding, may symbolize the moon or; closely associated with reproduction and survival. -
Upper Paleolithic Gravettian, c. 25,000–23,000 BCE, Mammoth ivory, 1.4 inches tall, Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France This figure most likely shows an idealized representation of a woman who is connected to the idea of either fertility and/or womanhood. The fact that the head is so elaborate and detailed indicates that there was a stronger emphasis placed on the symbolic meaning than there was on a realistic portrayal. This sculpture probably served a ritual function. -
Upper Paleolithic, c. 13,000–9,000 BCE, mineral pigments on rock, variable dimensions, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The artwork is made up of hand stencils, which were created by the artist blowing pigment around his or her hands producing distinct negative impressions on the walls of the cave. The use of many hands indicates a relation to the identity, community or presence of the artist, as well as a desire by early humans to indicate their however they could. -
Since the Neolithic people were no longer nomadic but had begun farming and creating permanent settlements, their artwork was developing in a more structured way through the use of geometric designs in their pots, tools and decorations as opposed to just animals (and human life) as they had previously done. This also indicates that the Neolithic communities were becoming more social and connected through their artistic expressions.
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Neolithic Saharan Rock Art, c. 6000–4000 BCE, Mineral pigments on rock, Variable; extends across several feet, Tassili n’Ajjer Plateau, southeast Algeria (in situ) The figures portrayed in this painted work probably depict some type of ritual or gathering in nature. The repetition of the figures may also indicate some type of motion (such as dancing), and may reflect a belief in the supernatural or in a gathering of multiple people together. -
Neolithic (Vinča culture), c. 5000–4500 BCE, Fired clay, 3.9–5.9 inches tall, National Museum of Serbia, Belgrade This figure probably had meaning beyond reproduction and may indicate ritual or religious significance. The abstract style of the figure may reflect more on “what is” than on “how it looks,” and may only have had meaning when used in either domestic or religious settings. -
Neolithic, c. 4000–3500 BCE, Terracotta, 7.9–9.8 inches tall, National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta The figure appears to have been used as an interpretation of female reproductive potential or feminine representation, and the posture indicates a sense of being grounded and rooted in life. In agricultural societies, where fertility was critical to survival, being able to have children was very important.