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Prehistoric Art: Origins and Discoveries

Prehistoric art dates from 35,000 BCE to 1,500 BCE, before writing. The first artists were Cro-Magnon peoples who lived in caves for shelter and hunted animals. In 1879, Maria de Sautuola discovered prehistoric cave paintings in Altamira Cave in Spain, changing history as the first modern humans to see such paintings. Cave paintings found across Europe depict animals, fish, hands and marks that may have represented calendars or rituals. Artists made paint from natural pigments like ochre and charcoal. The Lascaux Caves contain elaborate paintings like the Hall of Bulls that may have been part of magic hunting rituals. Other prehistoric art includes stone carvings and structures like

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Daniel Tarre Ogsimer
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185 views20 pages

Prehistoric Art: Origins and Discoveries

Prehistoric art dates from 35,000 BCE to 1,500 BCE, before writing. The first artists were Cro-Magnon peoples who lived in caves for shelter and hunted animals. In 1879, Maria de Sautuola discovered prehistoric cave paintings in Altamira Cave in Spain, changing history as the first modern humans to see such paintings. Cave paintings found across Europe depict animals, fish, hands and marks that may have represented calendars or rituals. Artists made paint from natural pigments like ochre and charcoal. The Lascaux Caves contain elaborate paintings like the Hall of Bulls that may have been part of magic hunting rituals. Other prehistoric art includes stone carvings and structures like

Uploaded by

Daniel Tarre Ogsimer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Pr ehi st or i c Ar t

35,000 B.C.E. to 1,500 B.C.E.


The
Beginning
of Art

Prehistory- before writing.


Who were the artists?
• Cro-Magnon peoples from 30,000 BCE are
currently known as the world’s first artists.
• They lived in caves when it was cold.
• Hunted animals for food, clothing, tools, and
shelter.
The First Discovery…
• In the autumn of 1879, Spanish nobleman and
amateur archeologist Marcelino Sanz de
Sautuloa and his young daughter, Maria, set
out to explore a cave in the hillside of
Altamira, not far from the family estate in
northern Spain. As a gentleman scholar, De
Sautuola took a serious interest in finding out
more about the prehistoric past.
Little Maria was small enough to see into the narrow
opening of the cave in their backyard.

What she saw changed history…


Making history…
• Maria had just become the first modern
human to set eyes on the first gallery of
prehistoric paintings ever to be discovered.
The Altamira Cave
Cave paintings
• Cave Paintings are found all over the world.
Western Europe, primarily Southern France
and Northern Spain, are rich with caves
containing Stone Age wall paintings.
The Art
• Rock paintings have been found to include line
drawings in charcoal and red ochre, painted
images, and negative images, which are
formed by painting the rock area around an
object, such as a hand.
How were they made?
• These Paleolithic artists made paint out of
natural substances such as red and yellow
earth, different colored minerals, and black
charcoal. They would grind these into a
powder and mix with water (scientists have
found cave water works really well for this).
Subjects of Paintings

Aurochs- an ancient bull Horses Fish(rare)

Also- ibex
goats
hyenas
turtles
people
Rhinoceroses and bison human hands
marks that represent a calendar
Why were they made?
• We don't know why the painters made cave paintings. The theories
include:
-Hunting "magic"
-Part of their spiritual beliefs
-Ceremonial - coming of age
-As an aid to memory and pass on

This one
is from
Lascaux,
France.
The Lascaux
Caves
Lascaux Caves
15,000-13,000BCE
Researchers think that
this horse was part of a
magic hunting ritual.
They believe that the
artists threw spears at
the horse because there
are marks on the walls
of the cave.
Hall of the Bulls
Many rooms with paintings…
• To explore online go to:
• [Link]
• An amazing interactive site!!!
Las Cuevas de Las Piletas 28,000-8,000 BC
Located in Southern Spain

One of
the I went there!!
caves
still
open to
the
public.
Prehistoric Sculpture
Much more difficult than painting!

This bison was carved out


Of a reindeer horn. It’s
About four inches long.
12,000BCE
These bison were carved out of rock.
Each one is about two feet long.
12,000 BCE
Stonehenge
A prehistoric rock monument.
Made of monoliths- large rocks.

Very mysterious-align with the sun-


cast shadows during solstices and may
have been a type of calendar.
Created over time
Around 2000 BCE.

There are other


Stones circles but
This is the most famous.

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