prehistoric art
Ancient visual expression
Prehistoric art refers to visual works created before the development of writing systems—cave paintings, carved figurines, megalithic structures, and rock engravings made by early humans.
The term spans an enormous timeframe, from the oldest known cave art some 40,000 years ago through the Bronze Age in some regions.
The cave paintings at Lascaux are among the most famous examples of prehistoric art.
- ochreIron-rich earth pigment
- petroglyphsCarvings on natural stone
- pigmentColor-imparting material
- cave paintingsPrehistoric artwork on stone
- cave wallsInner surfaces of caverns
carving · rock art · Altamira · engraving · Paleolithic · fertility symbols · celestial symbols · sacred spaces · geometric patterns · burial rites · hunting scenes · handprints · hand stencils · shamanism · incising · animism · ritual objects · bas-relief
- antiquitiesancient coins, ancient relics, ancient artifacts, ancient pottery, ancient seals
- archaeologyexcavation, dig site, archaeologist, dig, archaeological digs
- ancient artsculpture, sculptures, pottery, mosaics, murals
- British PrehistoryStonehenge, stone circles, henges, hill forts, burial mounds
- cave artcave painting, cave paintings, Lascaux, Altamira, hand stencils
- Paleoartmuseum dioramas, feathered dinosaurs, hunting scenes
prehistoric arthistorical art
Art portraying past events
digital art · modern art · contemporary art · art history · recorded history
artist, artistry, prehistoric, artists, prehistory, artistically, prehistories