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Prehistoric art

Humans make art. We do this for many reasons and with whatever technologies are available to us. Prehistoric art refers artifacts made before there was a written record. Long before the oldest written languages were developed, people had become expert at creating forms that were both practical and beautiful. The earliest art comes from the Paleolithic era (the Old Stone Age), but it was in the Neolithic era that we see the most important developments in human history. The way we live today—settled in cities, protected by laws, eating food from farms—all this dates back approximately 10,000 years ago to the Neolithic era.

A team of Griffith University archaeologists has shared in the discovery of what may be the world’s oldest known cave painting, dating back to at least 45,500 years ago.

Oldest Cave Art Found in Sulawesi

by Smarthistory

Rock art is one of the best records of the life of past peoples who lived across the Sahara.

Rock Art in the Green Sahara (Neolithic)

by The British Museum

Stonehenge — In the most important development in human history, Neolithic people took the first step toward civilization.

The Neolithic revolution

by Dr. Senta German

Laxcaux — One of the defining traits of humans is our drive to make art, and this desire to create is as old as our species.

Paleolithic art, an introduction

by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker

Handaxe, Paleolithic — Fire, clothing, or the wheel: was this humble hand axe the earliest human technology?

Our earliest technology?

by The British Museum

Apollo 11 caves stones — All evidence points to Africa as the origin of our species … is Africa also the birthplace of art?

Apollo 11 Cave Stones

by Nathalie Hager

Jericho Skull — Is the plaster face on this skull modeled after a real person? Is it one of the world’s oldest portraits?

The Jericho Skull

by The British Museum

Lion Man — The cave lion was the fiercest animal of the ice age, and this mammoth ivory carving combines human with lion.

Lion Man

by The British Museum

Nuragic architecture, Sardinia — The Nuragic civilization of the island of Sardinia presents a mystery—what were their huge stone towers?

Nuragic architecture at Su Nuraxi Barumini, Sardinia

by Dr. Jeffrey A. Becker

Running Horned Woman — In an ancient North African “rock city,” modern explorers wetted a wall with water—revealing this graceful image.

Running Horned Woman, Tassili n’Ajjer, Algeria

by Nathalie Hager

Working Jade — Jade is a stone that is too hard to carve—to work it, artisans slowly rub away stone with grit.

Working jade

by Asian Art Museum

Tadrart Acacus, Rock Art — Images on rocks in the Sahara provide a glimpse into the development of humans in this now barren land.

Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Libya)

by UNESCO

Anthropomorphic Stele — This stone marker depicts an abstracted human. How should we interpret one of the Arabia’s earliest artifacts?

Anthropomorphic stele

by Nathalie Hager

Stonehenge — In the south of England, circles of huge stones rose from the plains.

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

by UNESCO

Bushel with ibex motifs — This beautiful pot was created over 5,000 years ago, and its decoration echoes its shape.

Bushel with ibex motifs

by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker

Jade Cong — Found in large numbers in burials, these Chinese carvings constitutes an enormous effort by skilled craftsman.

Jade Cong

by The British Museum

Venus of Willendorf — The name of this prehistoric sculpture refers to a Roman goddess—but what did she originally represent?

Venus of Willendorf

by Dr. Bryan Zygmont

Lascaux, Hall of Bulls — Mysteries surround the cave paintings at Lascaux, but it’s clear our use of images has a long history.

Hall of Bulls, Lascaux

by Mary Beth Looney

Stonehenge — Recognized worldwide, Stonehenge seems an impossible task: how, and why, did prehistoric people build it?

Stonehenge

by Dr. Senta German

Catalhoyuk — The city of Çatalhöyük points to one of man's most important transformations, from nomad to settled farmer.

Çatalhöyük

by Dr. Senta German