Prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered, and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory. Neolithic period marks with the rise of farming, which produced the “Neolithic Revolution”, and ending when metal tools becoming widespread in the Copper Age (chalcolithic) or Bronze Age developing directly into the Iron. These discoveries are all paleolithic and come prior to the rise of farming.
First known “art” object: water worn pebble resembling a human face, from Makapansgat, South Africa, ca. 3,000,000 BCE. Reddish brown jasperite, approx. 2 3/8″ wide.
Acheulian Goddess – The Great Mother, most ancient goddess, shaped from rock by our ancestors 1/4 million to 3/4 million years ago
The Venus of Tan-Tan was found during an excavation on the north bank of the River Draa by Lutz Fiedler, state archeologist of Hessen, Germany. It was sandwiched between two undisturbed layers: a lower layer comprising sediments, fossils and artifacts from the Early Acheulian period (at least 500,000 BCE), and an upper one dating from the Middle Acheulian (approx 200,000 BCE)
The early Stone Age figurine of Tan-Tan, discovered by the River Draa near the Moroccan town of Tan-Tan, is considered to be one of the oldest items of prehistoric sculpture known to archeology. Its discovery, some 18 years after that of another figurine of similar antiquity and morphology on the Golan Heights (the Venus of Berekhat Ram) is supportive of the idea that both objects are genuine works of art from the pre-Homo sapiens era, particularly in view of microscopic research by Alexander Marshack confirming that the Golan venus was incised by human hand, rather than nature.
Abalone Shell Credit: Science/AAAS Archaeologists in South Africa uncovered two 100,000-year-old abalone shells and assorted bones and stones that served a toolkits to make some sort of ochre-based compound. The mixture may have been used as a paint or adhesive. It’s the oldest evidence of humans making a complex compound, and even the oldest evidence of humans using containers.
“A coating of bright red powder on the insides of a pair of 100,000-year-old abalone shells is evidence of the oldest known art workshop, a new study says. The powder was found inside two shells in Blombos Cave near Still Bay, South Africa (map). The substance is the dried remains of a primitive form of paint made by combining colorful clay called ochre, crushed seal bones, charcoal, quartzite chips, and a liquid, such as water. ”
“The oldest known bedding – sleeping mats made of mosquito-repellant evergreens that are about 77,000 years old – has been discovered in a South African cave. This use of medicinal plants, along with other artifacts at the cave, helps reveal how creative these early peoples were, researchers said”
These paintings of seals were discovered in the Nerja Caves near Malaga, Spain. They are at least 42,000 years old and are the only known artistic images created by Neanderthal man
“The photo shows a rock bearing one of the 40,000-year-old hand pattern engravings, which have recently been discovered in the Teimareh region near the city of Khomein in Central Province.”
Ivory carving of Horse, Vogelherd cave, Germany, from about 33,000 BCE. Some of the oldest art ever found.
Lion Man dated 32,000 BC. Upper paleolithic. Lionheaded Figurine discovered in a cave in Germany. From circa 30,000 BC.
Paleolithic Art, Roucadour cave Themines, Quercy, Lot, France. Attributed to the oldest phase of Paleolithic Art in Quercy, c. 28,000-24,000 years BP. All known prehistoric sites that have been discovered, have trails that lead to near and distant hematite deposits. Historians have deduced that the impetus behind all mining activities was a need for ochre pigments. Cave dwellers might have traveled as far as 25 miles to obtain iron earth pigments for their paint in the Lascaux area. The first paintings were cave paintings. Ancient peoples decorated walls of protected caves with paint made from dirt or charcoal mixed with spit or animal fat.
