The Stone Age

- Lasted from 30,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE ---named after the main technological tool developed at that time: stone.
- age when early humans first started using stones for their tools and weapons.
- This was a game changer helping them hunt, build and make their lives easier.

-The Stone Age is divided in three distinct periods: the Paleolithic Period or Old Stone Age (30,000 BCE–10,000 BCE), the Mesolithic
Period or Middle Stone Age (10,000 BCE–8,000 BCE), and the Neolithic Period or New Stone Age (8,000 BCE–3,000 BCE).
- Stone Age art illustrates early human creativity through small portable objects, cave paintings, and early sculpture and architecture.
- Cro-Magnon people are currently known as world’s first known artist.

NEOLITHIC

1) Neolithic- “New Stone Age”- 8,000BCE- 3,000BCE

-Considered as last period of stone age.

-Began in Mesopotamia region of South Western Asia and expanded from there, now what we call the Neolithic Evolution.

2) Neolithic Revolution
Began with change in climate
- Warmer Climate (The land became Warmer)
- Ice melted (Melting much of the ice that covered the land)
- Plant Growth (Therefore, allowing more plants to grow)
- Farming (Additionally, changed in temp. caused there to be less larger animals)
(people had to find new sources of food so they turned to agriculture and domesticated animals)
- Domesticated animals
- Built Homes (These in turn, caused them to stay in one place instead of being nomadic like the paleolithic period)
- Communities (They Built homes and eventually formed communities)

3) Tools
- Tools shifted from weapons to ornaments used for religious purpose during this age (Smooth stones)
-Tools were made more portable, smoother, and much effective. (chisel w/ small handles) Which led to new type of art.

4) Art
1) Rock art
-depicted more human figures than P.E
- could either be painted or carved on rock surfaces
- With the creation or permanent buildings, this era started wall painting in addition to cave painting ex. In Catal Hoyuk (has
numerous wall paintings- however not durable so only traces of Neolithic wall paintings have survived)
- some left the caves and cliffs for good and became a decorative art.
- pottery painting (more durable as the paint is baked into the surface. (as a result more pattery painting ex. Than walls.

2) Pottery
- important to these era (specialty)
- used to store food in communities (replaced stone & wood utensils) & decorated homes.

3) Idols & small Statues

-Neolithic people made thousands of miniature figures of humans
-Emergence of the human body as the core location of the human identity

4) Megaliths
- Large stone used to construct monument.
- Interlocking system of rocks w/o use of water or cement
- most commonly built for tomb