Prehistoric Sculpture
Prehistoric artworks are specially dominated by parietal art, such as cave painting and cave petroglyphs. As sculpture is a form of mobile art and prone to loss or destruction, it definitely is no less significant in revealing an intellectual or artistic process of the artist or the culture behind it. Also, plastic art is invariably more complex than 2D arts like drawing or painting. Not surprisingly, Stone Age tools improved significantly in quality to differing shapes, blades, and weights. Therefore, the arrival of modern man had an immense impact on sculpture and tool in the Upper Paleolithic eras.
The oldest known Stone Age sculpture is the "Venus of Berekhat Ram", found in the Golan Heights. It dates back to the Acheulean culture in the Lower Paleolithic. A figure by the name of "Venus of Tan-Tan" was later discovered in Morocco. Both works made of volcanic rock, these humanoid objects were created not by Homo Sapiens, but the primitive Homo Erectus. Surprisingly, the next oldest prehistoric sculpture was the "Venus of Hohle Fels". Researchers are not exactly sure as to why it took so long for another human figurine to appear, but it does corroborate that there was a relatively high advancement in the early nature. An archaeologist or paleoanthropologist can confirm that a great amount of prehistoric settlements have allowed several artifacts to be excavated.
Venus of Berekhat Ram
Venus of Tan-Tan
Venus of Hohle Fels
(38,000-33,000 BCE)
The materials used in this prehistoric sculpture are quite diverse, as they varied by region and locality. Most commonly, prehistoric sculptors used mammoth bone and ivory in carvings, as well as perishable wood. Artist sometimes carved in softer varieties of stone like limestone and sandstone. Harder varieties included quartzite and serpentine. Clay and terracotta were widely used in figures of the Stone Age. In the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, tools became stronger, which allowed for the carving in tougher materials. Rarely, silver, gold, and jade were used.
Looking at these seemingly simple yet spectacular works really makes us wonder how innovative these prehistoric people were to even think of such a way of expression. Who ever thought of the idea that carving into a material could create beautiful, yet meaningful works. This is the primitive and true origin of sculpture, leading up to the immense and historic works of today.
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