

Prehistoric Art
ASAG Journal
Prehistoric art refers to the art created by humans before the advent of recorded history. It encompasses various forms, including cave paintings, rock carvings, and sculptures made from various materials such as bone, ivory, and stone. Prehistoric art is often characterized by its depictions of animals, such as bison, horses, and mammoths, as well as human figures and abstract shapes. These works of art were created for a variety of purposes, including ritual practices, communication, and storytelling, and offer valuable insights into the beliefs, lifestyles, and cultures of prehistoric societies.
Chauvet Cave Paintings
Randy H. Sooknanan
ASAG Journal
June 23, 2022
These paintings, discovered inside the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave in France are more than 36,000 years old. They are some of the best-preserved figurative cave paintings in the world, as well as invaluable evidence of human life during Upper Paleolithic period. Chauvet contains a total of over 300 paintings and engravings overall, and can be considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of all time. Within this immense and important site, representating all of our shared human cultural heritage, we find the murals are grouped within the most accessible part of the cave. The images we see are speculated to depict a volcanic eruption as various animals react to the catastrophic event. This, still just a theory, suggests that these cave paintings are indeed the earliest depiction of a natural disaster in history, thus it acts as both a work of art and possibly the first example of a historian recording events. Upon viewing the work we can note the content of the imagery as well as the artistic techniques used to create scenes. Interestingly here, the artist illustrates different types of animals, ones that are those not usually represented in other cave paintings discovered from the era. Though this comparison we know that most of the species depicted in Stone Age art were previously game animals that were usually hunted for food. However, at Chauvet, it is the more dangerous animals - not generally hunted for food - that account for a majority of the images. Furthermore, Chauvet's Stone Age painters employed more sophisticated techniques of drawing, shading, perspective and composition in their murals than was previously expected, at least for the period in question. As a result, Chauvet contains numerous dynamic and powerful compositions consisting of multiple images skillfully executed and arranged to fit in with the contours of the cave chambers. Also as evidence suggests, a significant quantity of the charcoal drawings were painted by a single, master artist. And so, with this knowledge, maybe, we can consider he or she the world's first painter, muralist and historian.

Cave Painting detail
Credit: @historydefined
'Venus' figurines
Randy H. Sooknanan
ASAG Journal
October 7, 2022
A Venus figurine is any Upper Paleolithic statuette portraying a woman, usually carved in the round. Most have been unearthed in Europe, but others have been found as far away as Siberia, and distributed across much of Eurasia. Here is perhaps the famous of such artifacts, the Venus of Willendorf.
The Venus of Willendorf is a small, 4.4-inch figurine of a woman that dates back to approximately 28,000-25,000 BCE. It was discovered in 1908 in Austria and is believed to have been created during the Paleolithic era. The figurine is made out of limestone and is notable for its exaggerated features: large breasts, round belly, wide hips, and a pubic triangle. The faceless head is covered by a hat or headpiece. The figurine has been interpreted as a symbol of fertility, maternity, and abundance. It suggests an appreciation for the female form and the role of women in early societies.
The Venus of Willendorf is significant as it provides insight into the beliefs and values of the Paleolithic period. It is one of the earliest known depictions of a human figure and is believed to have served a significant cultural purpose. The figurine is an intriguing representation of the female form and provides evidence of the importance of women in society. The Venus of Willendorf has become a symbol of prehistoric art and continues to fascinate people to this day.
We can also take a look at various other 'Venus' figurines from the Upper Paleolithic. Here are some more statuettes portraying a woman, carved in the round. Most of these date from the Gravettian period, which succeeded the Aurignacian period, and begins approximately around 33,000 to 21,000 BP. We will also later figurines. What are the commonalities you see? Differences? What do you think was there purpose?
Gallery
Venus of Willendorf

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery
'Venus' figurines

Ramessos, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Louvre Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Credit: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 1.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statuette_Mehrgarh.jpg

Credit: Pinterest
'"Venus of Dolní Věstonice"
Randy H. Sooknanan
ASAG Journal
March 23, 2023
The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is a prehistoric sculpture from the Paleolithic era. It was discovered in 1925 in the Czech Republic, and it is estimated to be around 29,000 years old. The sculpture is made from a mixture of clay, bone, and stone, and it stands at 11.1 centimeters tall. It is one of the earliest examples of figurative art and is considered to be a masterpiece of prehistoric art.
The sculpture depicts a naked woman with exaggerated breasts, stomach, and buttocks. It is believed to have been used for fertility rituals or as a symbol of beauty and abundance. The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is one of several similar figures found in the region, and it provides valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of prehistoric people. It is now housed in the Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic.
'"The Lion-Man"
Randy H. Sooknanan
ASAG Journal
March 22, 2023
The "Lion-Man" prehistoric sculpture is an extremely rare and valuable object made of mammoth ivory which is believed to be a representation of a powerful figure with the body of a man and the head of a lion, which is why its name is "Lion-Man". This statue was discovered in a cave in southern Germany in 1939 and was made between 35,000 and 40,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest representations of a human-like figure with an animal's head in the history of human art.
The sculpture stands just over one foot tall and has a great deal of detail carved into it, including an elaborate mane, sharply defined muscles on the body, and a prehistoric tool belt around the waist. The figure's expression is calm and confident, giving an impression of strength and majesty that is enhanced by the intricate carving work. Today, this incredible work of art can be seen at the Ulm Museum in Germany, where it is regarded as an important piece of human heritage and a testament to the incredible skill and creativity of our prehistoric ancestors.
Gallery
"The Lion-Man

Dagmar Hollmann, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Thilo Parg, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery
"Venus of Dolní Věstonice"

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.)guidance: Danny B., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons