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Class-1 Notes - Prehistoric Arts - KAS Insights PDF
Class-1 Notes - Prehistoric Arts - KAS Insights PDF
Class-1 Notes - Prehistoric Arts - KAS Insights PDF
SUBJECT ART AND CULTURE
CLASS 01
SUB TOPIC PRE HISTORIC ARTS
Prehistory refers to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records
with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it can refer to all the time preceding human
existence and the invention of writing.
Human prehistory is divided into three consecutive time periods, named for their respective
predominant tool‐making technologies,
Stone Age – Stone tools were used
Bronze Age – Copper + Tin alloy was used
Iron Age – Usage of Iron tools
Stone Age
Stone was used as the all‐purpose material during stone for hunting and other purposes. During
this stage man was lived in groups and made shelters using leaves and branches. They stayed in
rock caves and man was a food gatherer during initial Stone Age.
Based on the type of stone tools used, Stone Age can be classified into three stages as
Palaeolithic Age
Mesolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age: The initial period of Stone Age is called Palaeolithic age where the man was
using crude stone tools. For hunting, they mainly used weapons made of stones. They also used
bones of animals, ivory, and pieces of wood, etc. as weapons. Hide and bark were used as clothes.
The bones of animals were used as needles for sewing.
Features of Palaeolithic Age
They used crude stone tools for hunting and other purposes
Food gatherer ‐ no cultivation of food crops
The Palaeolithic humans hunted collectively and stronger man as leader
There was no gender difference in hunting and ate flesh
They used fire for cooking and light
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The various usages of crude stone during
the Palaeolithic stage were listed here.
Palaeolithic sites
Numerous Palaeolithic Age sites were
discovered all around the world and
several cave paintings can be seen in
different parts of the world. These
pictures provides valuable information on
the early human life.
The various information obtained from
these Palaeolithic Age caves were listed
below.
Different colors were used in the cave paintings. The colors were made from mixtures of
plant extracts and powdered laterite.
Most of the paintings were of animals and
activities related with hunting
Animal fat was used as fuel for lighting in the
caves where sunlight was insufficient.
The pictures of hunting are the evidence for
their planning of the hunting ground and the
prey.
Pictures were drawn on the ceilings of the
caves as well. This stands in evidence for the
dexterity of early humans.
Residue of cooked food, ashes, bones and
skulls of animals, leftovers of fruits,
vegetables, and freshwater fishes, etc. were
also discovered from the caves.
Important Palaeolithic Sites
Lascaux (France) Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) Kurnool Caves (Andhra Pradesh)
Altamira (Spain) Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh) Hungsi (Karnataka)
Chauvet (France) Narmada Valley (MP, Maharasthra, Gujarat)
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Features of Palaeolithic Rock Paintings
The paintings here can be divided into three categories: man, animal and geometric
patterns in white, black and red ochre.
Humans are represented in stick‐like forms.
Wavy lines, rectangle‐filled geometric designs, and groups of dots
The earliest are in black; over these are red ochre paintings and white paintings.
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