The Prehistoric Period: From Seventy Thousand Years Before Christ to Ten Thousand Years Before Christ

The Prehistoric Period seventy thousand years before Christ to ten thousand years before Christ

The prehistoric period is the era before manuscripts were discovered. It is said, that history began the day proofs of handwritten texts on human civilizations were found. From a Western perspective, the period before the discovery of a rock inscription in Egypt during three thousand four hundred before Christ, is said to be the prehistoric era. This era has been classified into important phases:

· The Stone Age

· The Neolithic Age

· The Bronze Age

· The Iron Age

The span of this prehistoric phase is longer than any other period. Relics of human existence that are found in Northern and Central Europe date back to seventy thousand years before Christ.

At a very early ancient stage, there was 'Ice' all over the Earth. Slowly the ice melted and the mountains and land were visible. Plants and living organisms emerged. Evolution took place. Homo-sapiens (human species) appeared, seeking shelter in mountain-hollows and caverns. Being in a barbarian phase of their evolution, it had not struck humans to perform acts of farming, building homes, etc. They survived on plants, root vegetation, and meat of the animals they hunted. Metals had not been discovered. Therefore, stone was the only weapon they possessed during this phase. The stones were finely pointed and made use for hunting and defence. The one-side tapering pointed stone was human's only weapon aid then. They could, with the help of this tool, break rocks to make caves too. Hence this era of stone tools and weapons is rightly known as the 'Stone Age'.

The era that existed between thirty thousand to ten thousand years before Christ is very significant from the point of view of 'Art'. Man's attempts to shape his weapons and other tools is seen since so ancient an era. Along with stones, he is found to be seen engraving also on ivory, bones, animal horns, etc.

Human life in such an era was insecure and laborious. Culture then only meant living in bands, hunting; if possible gathering and storing the necessities.

In the year eighteen seventy-nine after Christ, a farmer in Spain discovered an archaic cave. Having explored its interiors, he saw pictures of animals drawn and painted on the inner walls. This is the world-famous 'Altamira Cave' in Spain. In nineteen forty-nine, in south-western France the Lascaux caves were found. As of date, about seventy such caves and hollow spaces have been found in Europe. In these, more than seven hundred to eight hundred such pictures were found to be seen. Some of these are in the dark, as they are on the walls in the very inner recesses of the caves.

The earlier drawings were linear; only two, rather than four limbs of animals are seen to have been drawn in the images. The lines seem broken and uneven. The outlines do not seem to have drawn in a way that would suggest the volume of the form, yet the attempts can be seen where finer details have been neatly etched.

In the subsequent era, the images in the dim light from burning tallows are amazing and full of variety. The powers of observation and mastery of humans over colouring while drawing pictures of animals: bison, reindeer, horse, bear, mammoth, must be applauded without any doubt. The colours noticed to have been used in the pictures seem to have been prepared by making fine powder of the natural colours: the white from limestone, yellow from the yellowish clay, brown from mineral substance, black from the soot, red, etc. and pounding them with animal fat. But the colours green and blue cannot be seen in the images. Also, the layout seems incoherent, and there is no trace of any landscape.

This is what Salomon Reinach the nineteenth century French archaeologist has to say about these images, 'Man from this era may have based on these animals started making 'black magic', and this may probably have increasingly provided a boost to his self-confidence. This view has been accepted to a certain extent by other experts too. As per another view, these pictures may have been drawn to practise aiming at targets. Through the drawings in the caves: javelin, spear, the rope loop for trapping animals, are seen to have been coloured. There are lines hinting of blood shown through a bear's mouth and nose; whereas in some pictures holes are made to show wounds on a bear's body.

There could be three reasons for black magic:

For Prosperity: to bring about the birth of new animals.

For Hunting: pictures drawn to practise aiming target before hunting or to make sure the prey is certainly caught; since it was a question of livelihood.

For Worship: that the souls of the animals rested in peace; conveying an expression of sympathy.

It might have been felt then that drawing realistic pictures would attract animals leading them into the hunting zone. Therefore, the greater the similarity, the chances of the spell of black magic working were felt to be that much more. This probably gave them a sense of assurance at the time of hunting.

Pictures of distinct types of animals are painted on the walls and roofs of the caves at Lascaux in France. These caves are far more ancient than the Altamira cave. Among the painted animals are found to be seen the bison, deer, horse and cattle herd. Of these, while some are drawn with black colour; simply using dramatic lined forms, some others are coloured with gaudy colour of clay.

These caves also are adorned with graphics of the ox, and scattered, galloping wild horses. Some of these pictures are eighteen feet long. Still in excellent condition, these look outstanding on a background of white rocks. The outlines of these depictions seem to have been drawn with great ease, and the colour application admirably executed with tints of flat colour. Even in these images we do not find any attempt having been made to bring about prominence of the area contained within the outlines; however, all the four limbs of animals are clearly seen. There is visible such softness in colour application here, making one feel as if dry colour powder may have been applied, blown through a pipe made from tree leaves. The use of brushes too seems evident. Several styles of illustrations have come to be seen in one cave; the depiction of horses - numbering around sixty, found to have been done in abundance. Besides, this cave also has around twenty pictures of oxen.

Post the Lascaux era, i.e. around ten thousand years before Christ, in the regions of Northern Spain and Southern France, excellent pictures were produced in several caves. Even among these the ones in Altamira, Spain are unique. In the images that have sustained and remained on its roofs, there are drawings of animals in their evolving phases; some, as long as four to seven feet. Considering the primitive tools of the artists of those times, these pictures can be said to be incomparable in their depictions. The illustration here belonging to the era - twenty thousand to ten thousand years before Christ - of the 'Resting Bison' is remarkable.

Shade gradation has been applied in this image. This picture has been sketched competently enough to identify the soft fur on the bison's body, its meaty fleshiness, its magnificence, and the specific posture of its head turned backward. This drawing also gives a sense of the Stone Age artisan's artistry and accurate understanding of the anatomy derived from the observations of animals. The drawings in this cave include also human figures at some places. But the pictures of animals are more forceful. These images are a testimony to the artists' subtle observation, strong draughtsmanship and mastery over the brush tools.

Sculptures of the Prehistoric Era

Specimen of engravings and mud reliefs are available on the walls of the caves at Lascaux and Altamira. Similarly, there are certain three-dimensional idols too found to have been made here. Among them there have been found uneven idols also. An idol sculpted during twenty thousand BC; the statue of 'Venus of Willendorf, made from hard limestone, is said to be the most famous sculpture of the Stone Age. This idol was found in Austria. Its height is nine point seven centimeters. The breasts, abdomen and the waist parts of this small woman idol are shown to be far more than the normal proportions. Her head is seen to be devoid of eyes, nose and other organs. It seems, Venus of Willendorf frontview looking at this bulky figure, that the maternal tradition may have been in its primal stage during that era.

During that era, idols of some other animals such as reindeer, antelope, etc. are found to have been made of stone, animal horns, and bones. It seems that the artefacts engraved beautifully may have been created to wear as necklaces and bangles. All in all, statues that are found are lesser as compared to pictures. It is quite possible that many of these sculptures may have got destroyed through the ages.