ARTH110 Short Essay Hara Nathalia PDF

NATHALIA HARA
ARTH110 – ASSIGNMENT 1 – SHORT ESSAY (PALEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC)
Assignment 1: Short Essay (Paleolithic and Neolithic)
Historians have divided human prehistory into three ages: Stone Age, Bronze
Age, and Iron Age. The Stone age also has three main periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic,
and Neolithic ages. Mesolithic, also called Middle Stone Age, is the period between the
Upper Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) and the Neolithic (New Stone Age).
During the Paleolithic and Neolithic transition, people lived on hunting, fishing,
and food gathering; later on, they also domesticated animals. Neolithic humans
discovered how to cultivate plants and domesticate animals. They also invented writing,
pottery and weaving. The agricultural revolution in the early Neolithic era had a
profound impact on the human species. The wheel is also believed to have been
invented in the Neolithic period. Calendars and time-keeping were also invented in this
era.
When it comes to art, Paleolithic people had animistic religious beliefs. They
decorated the walls of their cave dwellings with pictures of animals, including deer,
bison and mammoths. They also made small sculptures, notably Venus. On the other
hand, the human figure became more important during the Neolithic era, with painted
scenes with people hunting, farming, or dancing. They also made complex carvings,
pottery, tombs, etc. The methods for making art became more varied as inventions of
apparatuses were established and people learned to make a variety of art.
It is known that there are many differences between Paleolithic art and Neolithic
art, like the type of painting, the brush strokes and the purpose and meaning behind the
paintings. With that being said, is there any artwork or relic that presents similarities
between these two eras? Can we say that the Paleolithic art influenced the Neolithic
art?
To answer these questions, we need to analyze some of the artwork and relics
created during these two eras.
The first relic is the Göbekli Tepe, which is a Neolithic archaeological located in
Turkey. It is one of the most important archeological sites globally, with some
researchers even claiming it was the site of the biblical Garden of Eden.
Göbekli Tepe consists of four arrangements of monolithic pillars linked together
by segments of coarsely built dry stone walls to form a series of circular or oval
structures. There are two large pillars in the center of each complex which are encircled
by slightly smaller stones facing inward. Archaeologists believe that these pillars could
have once supported roofs. The structures vary in size between 33 and 98 feet in
diameter and have floors made of terrazzo (burnt lime) floors. (Haughton, 2011)
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NATHALIA HARA
Figure 1 - Göbekli Tepe, the world's first temple
As shown in Figure 2 below, some of the stones at Göbekli Tepe display

extraordinary artwork in the form of elaborately carved foxes, lions, bulls, scorpions, and
more. The art of carving is related to the Neolithic era, but the use of animals is well
known from the Paleolithic period, making us believe that it influenced the Neolithic art
in this Tepe.
Figure 2 - T-shaped monolithic limestone pillar that contains carvings of animals and abstract characters
and icons. (approx. 10,000 BCE)
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NATHALIA HARA
Another exciting relic worth analyzing is the Catal Hoyuk, a large Neolithic and
Chalcolithic proto-city in southern Anatolia. James Mellaart first excavated the site in
1958. He later led a team that further excavated there for four seasons between 1961
and 1965. These excavations revealed this section of Anatolia as a centre of advanced
culture in the Neolithic period. Excavation revealed 18 successive layers of buildings
signifying various stages of the settlement and eras of history. The bottom layer of
buildings can be dated as early as 7100 BC, while the top layer is from 5600 BC. It was
composed entirely of domestic buildings, with no public buildings. While some of the
larger ones have rather ornate murals, the purpose of some rooms remains unclear.
Figure 3 – Catal Hoyuk after the first excavations
Throughout the settlement, you can find vivid murals and figurines on interior and
exterior walls. Although no temples were found, there were numerous graves, murals,
and figures that suggest the people of Catal Hoyuk had a religion rich in symbols. Not
only their religion connects this relic with the Paleolithic period but also the type of
drawings on the walls and the distinctive clay figurine of women, notably the Seated
woman of Catal Hoyuk (Figure 5), which resembles the famous Venus figurine from the
Upper Paleolithic period.
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NATHALIA HARA
Figure 4 - Detail of the mural showing the hind part of the aurochs, a deer and hunters.
Figure 5 - Seated goddess flanked by two felines, lionesses
The last relic that will be analyzed in this research paper is the Jericho site, one
of the oldest continuously lived-in cities in the world. It is highly probable that to provide
enough land for cultivation, irrigation had been invented. This first Neolithic culture of
Palestine was a purely indigenous development. Commonly known as “the oldest city in
the world,” Jericho is an important historical, cultural, and political center located
northwest of the Dead Sea. The city is perhaps best known from the Biblical story of a
great victory over its Canaanite citizens by the Israelite leader Joshua. (Nasa, 2005)
Figure 6 – Jericho site
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NATHALIA HARA
In this period, there is some strong evidence for cult or religious belief at Jericho.
Archaeologists discovered one uniquely large building dating to the period with a unique
series of plastered interior pits and basins and domed adjoining structures. It is thought
this was for ceremonial use linking this relic to the Paleolithic era where religious
ceremonies were part of its people. (Britannica, n.d.)
Like each period in time influences the next, art is influenced by history and
evolves alongside its historical periods. Humans first made art during the Stone Age,
but it evolved drastically as the eras moved from Paleolithic to Neolithic. The methods
for making art became more varied as tools were developed and humans learned to
make crafts like pottery. While it is believed that both Paleolithic and Neolithic people
made art for ritualistic purposes, this intent was more apparent during Neolithic times.
Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating
experiences across space and time. Research has shown art affects the fundamental
sense of self. Painting, sculpture, music, literature and the other arts are often
considered to be the repository of a society's collective memory. (Reference, 2020)
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NATHALIA HARA
References:
Anwar, S (2018) The Mesolithic Age. Retrieved from:

https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/the-mesolithic-age-1430564980-1
Britannica (n.d.) Jericho. Retrieved from:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Jericho-West-Bank
Britannica (n.d.) Mesolithic. Retrieved from:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Mesolithic
Curry, A (n.d.) Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple? Retrieved from:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-temple-
83613665/
Diffen (n.d.) Neolithic vs. Paleolithic. Retrieved from:
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Neolithic_vs_Paleolithic
Earth Observatory (n.d.) Jericho, West Bank. Retrieved from:
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/5462/jericho-west-bank
Haughton, B (2011) Gobekli Tepe - the World's First Temple? Retrieved from:
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/234/gobekli-tepe---the-worlds-first-temple/
Hasa (2020) What is the Difference Between Paleolithic and Neolithic Age.
Retrieved from: https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-paleolithic-and-
neolithic-age/
How To Talk About Art History (2019) Paleolithic vs. Neolithic Art: How and Why
are They Different? Retrieved from: http://www.howtotalkaboutarthistory.com/reader-
questions/paleolithic-versus-neolithic-art-different/
Khan Academy (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved from:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/prehistoric-art/neolithicart/neolithic-
sites/a/atalhyk
Khan Academy (n.d.) Jericho. Retrieved from:
sites/a/jericho
Khan Academy (n.d.) Paleolithic technology, culture, and art. Retrieved from:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/origin-
humans-early-societies/a/paleolithic-culture-and-technology
Khan Academy (n.d.) Paleolithic art, an introduction. Retrieved from:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/global-prehistory-ap/paleolithic-
mesolithic-neolithic-apah/a/paleolithic-art-an-introduction
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NATHALIA HARA
Lumen (n.d.) Paleolithic and Neolithic Art. Retrieved from:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-sac-artappreciation/chapter/oer-1-17/
Mezensky, C (n.d.) The Differences in Paleolithic & Neolithic Art. Retrieved from:
https://www.ehow.com/info_8484435_differences-paleolithic-neolithic-art.html
Reference (2020) How Does Art Influence Society? Retrieved from:
https://www.reference.com/world-view/art-influence-society-466abce706f18fd0
Wikipedia (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%87atalh%C3%B6y%C3%BCk
Wikipedia, (n.d.) Jericho. Retrieved from: Wikipedia (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved
from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%87atalh%C3%B6y%C3%BCk
Wikipedia, (n.d.) Göbekli Tepe. Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe
Figures:
Figure 1: Haughton, B (2011) Gobekli Tepe - the World's First Temple? Retrieved
from: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/234/gobekli-tepe---the-worlds-first-temple/
Figure 2: Haughton, B (2011) Gobekli Tepe - the World's First Temple? Retrieved
from: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/234/gobekli-tepe---the-worlds-first-temple/
Figure 3: Khan Academy (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved from:
sites/a/atalhyk
Figure 4: Wikipedia (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved from:
Figure 5: Wikipedia (n.d.) Çatalhöyük. Retrieved from:
Figure 6: Khan Academy (n.d.) Jericho. Retrieved from:
sites/a/jericho
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NATHALIA HARA

ARTH110 – ASSIGNMENT 1 – SHORT ESSAY (PALEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC)

Assignment 1: Short Essay (Paleolithic and Neolithic)

Figure 1 - Göbekli Tepe, the world's first temple

As shown in Figure 2 below, some of the stones at Göbekli Tepe display

Figure 3 – Catal Hoyuk after the first excavations

Figure 5 - Seated goddess flanked by two felines, lionesses

Figure 6 – Jericho site

Anwar, S (2018) The Mesolithic Age. Retrieved from:

Lumen (n.d.) Paleolithic and Neolithic Art. Retrieved from:

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