AP Art History Prehistoric Art Cards – Flashcards

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Charcoal on Stone Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 25,500-25,300 B.C.E Location: Nambia ( Southern Africa Function: Currently unknown, historians believe that they would have been used for ritualistic purposes. Form: Contains numerous geometric line designs, utilizes twisted perspective Content: Depicts an unknown animal standing in twisted perspective Context: Polytheistic hunter gatherer tribes.

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Bone Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 14,000-7000 B.C.E Location Tequixquiac ( Central Mexico) Function: Currently Unknown Historians believe it may have held some hunting or religious significance Form: Whittled down bone Content: Depicts some sort of canine that would have interacted with the artist Context:Polytheistic hunter gatherers

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Painted Terra Cotta Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 4200-3500 B.C.E Location Susa( Iran) Function: Discovered in many burial suits this artifact is believed by historians to wield some religious importance Form: Profile view, Twisted perspective, geometric shapes( such as the Ibex body) Content: An Ibex with exaggerated horns that go over some sort of prehistoric symbol Context: Created by a polytheistic prehistoric city with an affinity for the ibex

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Sandstone Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: Fourth Millennium B.C.E Location Arabian Peninsula Function: Discovered in burial sites, thought to be some sort of grave marker for the dead Form: lots of negative space, stylized human face Content: Created in the image of a possibly deceased person Context: Polytheistic prehistoric Arabian civilization

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Carved Jade Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 3300-2200 B.C.E Location Liangzhu (China) Function:Multiple found in many burial sites, possibly to ward off evil spirits for the important deceased. Form: Symetrical, face motif, contains a hole in the middle Content: Rectangular Prism with multiple faces carved into it Context: Polytheistic civilization where jade was considered a symbol of the wealthy and powerful

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Greywacke Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 1500 B.C.E Location Ambum Valley ( Papua New Guinea) Function: Believed to be some sort of ritualistic pestle Form: Bilateral symmetry Content: A pestle carved in a way to depict some sort of important animal Context: Polytheistic tribal civilization

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Ceramic Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 1200-900 B.C.E Location Tlatlico ( Central Mexico) Function: Currently Unknown, believed to honor some deity or real life conjoined twins Form: 3 eyed figure, very feminine with wide hips and a large torso. Unnaturally large thighs Content: Deformed human sculpture Context: Polytheistic tribal culture

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Terra Cotta Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 1000 B.C.E Location Lapita (Reef Islands) Function: Currently unknown thought to be some tablet or a part of a shelter Form: Multiple dotted lines, geometric figures Content: A pattern that forms somewhat of a bearded man's face Context: Polytheistic tribal patterns

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Sandstone Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 2500-1600 B.C.E Location Wiltshire( UK) Function: Unknown purpose most likely to honor the winter solstice to hold some festivity Form: Straight rectangular lines, groups of three Content: Large stones built around in a circle Context: Most likely built by Druids who worshiped the spirits of nature

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Pigment on rock Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 6000-4000 B.C.E Location Tassili n'Ajjer ( Algeria) Function: Believed to serve some religious purpose in connection to fertility Form: Stylized figure in twisted perpective and profile Content: A feminine figure dressed in white running Context: Polytheistic community

Period: Unit 1 Prehistory Medium: Bone Artist: Unknown Patron: Unknown Date: 15,000-13000 B.C.E Location Lascaux ( France) Function: To serve some religious purpose or to aid with hunting in some fashion Form: Use of profile and twisted perspective. Lots of natural colours Content: Multiple animals running around in what we believe to be their natural environment Context: A naturalistic group of hunter gatherers