Paleolithic & Neolithic Art

By jgonzales41
  • Lion Man. Ivory figure with lion head and partly human body standing upright, Stadel Cave, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 40,000 years old
    40,000 BCE

    Lion Man. Ivory figure with lion head and partly human body standing upright, Stadel Cave, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 40,000 years old

    An ivory-made sculpture containing a lion's face and a human body standing upright at 31 cm tall. Found in a cave in 1939 in Germany. It was most likely thought to be created from supernatural ideas. Art Citation: https://smarthistory.org/lion-man-2/?tl=lion-man-2&sidebar=europe-before-1000-b-c-e
  • Period: 40,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE

    Upper Paleolithic Period

    The Upper Paleolithic Period, or Old Stone Age, was a time when early humans roamed the earth. During the Stone Age, anatomically modern humans began creating and using tools, creating the oldest known representational and non-representational art. Citation: https://smarthistory.org/paleolithic-art-an-introduction/
  • The Venus of Hohlefels, Upper Paleolithic Period, 35,000 B.C.E
    35,000 BCE

    The Venus of Hohlefels, Upper Paleolithic Period, 35,000 B.C.E

    Female Figure of Hohlefels is a 2.4-inch-tall figure carved from mammoth ivory and was found in 6 fragments in a cave in southern Germany. The small loop located on top of the ancient female figure suggests it was worn as an ornament. Artwork Source Citation: Upper Paleolithic Period. Female Figure of Hohlefels. 35,000 BCE. Prehistoric museum Blaubeuren. https://smarthistory.org/paleolithic-art-an-introduction/
  • Venus” (or Woman) of Willendorf, c. 24,000–22,000 B.C.E., limestone, 11.1 cm high
    22,000 BCE

    Venus” (or Woman) of Willendorf, c. 24,000–22,000 B.C.E., limestone, 11.1 cm high

    The Venus of Willendorf is an 11.1 cm high limestone figure found in the Austrian village of Willendorf. This ancient, curved female figure emphasizes the female body's features greatly. Artwork Citation: https://smarthistory.org/venus-of-willendorf/?tl=venus-of-willendorf&sidebar=europe-before-1000-b-c-e
  • Period: 10,000 BCE to 5000 BCE

    The Neolithic Revolution

    The Neolithic Revolution (New Stone Age) began in the Middle East, where humans first took up farming and agriculture. During this era, early nomads created large-scale artworks like monoliths and pottery.
  • Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük (head is a restoration), The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey (photo: Nevit Dilmen, CC BY-SA 3.0)
    6000 BCE

    Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük (head is a restoration), The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey (photo: Nevit Dilmen, CC BY-SA 3.0)

    The Seated woman of Çatalhöyük is a small 17cm in length and 11 cm in width, baked clay figurine. Found in South Central Turkey, this large woman, most likely of high stature, is seated in a throne beside two large cats on either armrest. Art Citation: https://smarthistory.org/catalhoyuk/
  • Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, c. 2550–1600 B.C.E., circle 97 feet in diameter, trilithons: 24 feet high
    1600 BCE

    Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, c. 2550–1600 B.C.E., circle 97 feet in diameter, trilithons: 24 feet high

    Stonehenge is a large-scale monument in Salisbury, England. Made with blue stone and sarsen stone, this monument was built in comparison to a solar and lunar calendar. Artwork Citation: https://smarthistory.org/stonehenge/?tl=stonehenge&sidebar=europe-before-1000-b-c-e