Apollo 11

Paleolithic and Neolithic Art

By Sheccid Villagomez
  • Period: 40,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE

    Paleolithic Art

    During the Paleolithic Period(40,000 BCE- 10,000 BCE), caves were a primary location for shelters to provide a place to complete daily routines. Animals played a big role in everyday life by providing food, clothing, and materials to make tools. Artifacts from this time include cave paintings, “Venuses”, and sculptures made with natural materials.
  • Paleolithic Period,Aurignacian culture,Vogelherd Horse,32,000-30,000 BCE,mammoth ivory,1.88”W x .98”H, Museum Schloss Hohentübingen, Tübingen, Germany
    32,000 BCE

    Paleolithic Period,Aurignacian culture,Vogelherd Horse,32,000-30,000 BCE,mammoth ivory,1.88”W x .98”H, Museum Schloss Hohentübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    The Vogelherd Horse (32,000 BCE- 30,000 BCE) is one of the many sculptures made with materials such ivory, clay, and bone that represent animals from daily life. These not only show their natural world, but the memories they share with the animals. It reflects their environment and demonstrates their view of animals apart from gaining supplies.
  • Paleolithic Period, Gravettian culture, Venus of Dolní Věstonice, 29,000 BCE-25,000BCE, ground bone and clay, 4.4” H x 1.7” W ,Moravian Museum's Anthropos Pavilion in Brno, Czech Republic.
    29,000 BCE

    Paleolithic Period, Gravettian culture, Venus of Dolní Věstonice, 29,000 BCE-25,000BCE, ground bone and clay, 4.4” H x 1.7” W ,Moravian Museum's Anthropos Pavilion in Brno, Czech Republic.

    Venus of Dolní Věstonice (29,000 BCE- 25,000 BCE) is one example of the view of fertility during the Paleolithic Period. These types of figures emphasize and exaggerate the breast and stomach area, showing fertility during a time when it was difficult to have a baby. The faceless figure shows the story of women and their view and struggles on the idea of reproduction at the time.
  • Paleolithic Period, unrecorded , Apollo 11 Cave Stones, 17,000 BCE–13,000 BCE, quartzite slabs, hand sized, State Museum of Namibia, Windhoek
    17,000 BCE

    Paleolithic Period, unrecorded , Apollo 11 Cave Stones, 17,000 BCE–13,000 BCE, quartzite slabs, hand sized, State Museum of Namibia, Windhoek

    Apollo 11 Cave Stones (17,000 BCE-13,000 BCE) demonstrates how caves were a place where the people would gather and leave drawings, made with natural pigments, of animals and sometimes with humans. These paintings reflected the impact that animals had on their life, as well as the connection they felt with them. Animals were all around them as they shared their routines in their history of survival and identity.
  • Period: 10,000 BCE to 2998 BCE

    Neolithic Art

    The Neolithic Period (10,000 BCE- 3,000 BCE) was the beginning of human development and agricultural times. The period consisted of more permanent structures such as megalithic monuments, pottery, and home paintings/decorations with different designs of patterns and animals. Materials used for these structures include stone, clay, and natural pigments.
  • Neolithic Period, Çatalhöyük culture, Çatalhöyük Wall Painting, 7500 BCE- 5700 BCE, natural pigment on rock, Çatalhöyük, Turkey
    7500 BCE

    Neolithic Period, Çatalhöyük culture, Çatalhöyük Wall Painting, 7500 BCE- 5700 BCE, natural pigment on rock, Çatalhöyük, Turkey

    Çatalhöyük wall paintings (7,500 BCE- 5,700 BCE) were found in the shelters of the Çatalhöyük culture displaying animals, shapes, and humans. These paintings were part of their everyday lives and represent their daily activities. Their memories and culture stayed visible on the walls, even when the homes were abandoned.
  • Neolithic Period, Yangshao culture, Jar, 5000 BCE- 3000 BCE, painted ceramic, 9” x 7 ½", Shaanxi or Henan Province, China
    5000 BCE

    Neolithic Period, Yangshao culture, Jar, 5000 BCE- 3000 BCE, painted ceramic, 9” x 7 ½", Shaanxi or Henan Province, China

    The Jar (5,000 BCE-3,000 BCE) is an example of the different types of pottery that were used as tools, storage, and decoration. The pottery, such as the jar, was used to hold liquids and was decorated with patterns, except for the bottom. Some ceramics included bowls for cooking and eating, representing agriculture with food preparation.
  • Neolithic Period, unrecorded, Stonehenge, 4000-2000 BCE, Bluestone and sarsen stone, circle 97” D, trilithons 24” H, Salisbury Plain,Wiltshire,England
    4000 BCE

    Neolithic Period, unrecorded, Stonehenge, 4000-2000 BCE, Bluestone and sarsen stone, circle 97” D, trilithons 24” H, Salisbury Plain,Wiltshire,England

    Stonehenge (4000 BCE-2000 BCE) is a very well-known megalithic hinge made during the progression of the Neolithic period and the beginning of agriculture. It is a permanent part of the natural world and was made in different phases as the stones are very large and heavy. This monument is an example of what could have been used as a solar and lunar calendar for the solstice.