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1.4 Unit 1 Required Works

8 min readjanuary 22, 2023

Charly Castillo

Charly Castillo

Laurie Accede

Laurie Accede

Charly Castillo

Charly Castillo

Laurie Accede

Laurie Accede

The FFCCs of Unit 1

Unit 1 has 11 works, and you need to know all of their FFCCs (forms, functions, contents, and contexts) for the exam.

  1. Form- What materials is the artwork made from? What is its medium?

  2. Function- Why was this artwork created? What is its purpose?

  3. Content- What did the artist draw, paint, sculpt, etc.? What do you see in the image?

  4. Context- What is the history related to the image? All the circumstances around the works creation such as the location, time period, environment, etc.

This may sound like a daunting task, but luckily, Unit 1 is one of the shortest ones in the whole course. So, without further ado, the works of Unit 1.

Apollo 11 Stones

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7pRl5mWTCrhA.jpg?alt=media&token=5575657c-403c-4778-ac24-10160348e27a

Image Courtesy of the State Museum of Namibia.

Form:

  • Charcoal on stone

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but being portable may have something to do with how it was once used. It could have been used for storytelling or for animal worship.

Content:

  • The two most supported theories is that this work depicts either a four-legged animal common to the peoples' lives, or (a mythical being that is part human and part animal) in profile.

  • Art historians that believe that the work depicts a say that the body is that of a feline and the legs are human, possibly those of a shaman.

Context:

  • The stones were discovered the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landings (1969), so they were named after the historical event.

  • One of the oldest artifacts in the world.

Great Hall of Bulls

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7ROBO6AqJJ1E.jpg?alt=media&token=2b3c9150-78d4-4061-a585-3740793b738f

Image Courtesy of Smarthistory.

Form:

  • Natural pigment (charcoal, ochre, soot, crushed up berries/flowers, etc.) on rock

Function:

  • The purpose of this work is to represent the importance of animals to prehistoric hunter-gatherers as a source of food. This work could have been used to show members of the community about the animals surrounding them.

  • Another theory is that the painting was used in religious rituals or during storytelling.

Content:

  • Women are depicted gathering 👩‍🌾, while men are shown hunting 🏹, showing the stratification of labor by sex in the Paleolithic period.

  • The various animals are drawn quite large, showing prehistoric people's respect for them.

Context:

  • Because the cave is nearly 250 meters long and difficult to access, we can assume that it was meant to be entered by a specific group of people, most likely those who were well-respected. This supports the theory of the being a site for shaman's religious rituals.

  • It is also said that people may have inhabited this cave for thousands of years. There are many overlapping, or superimposed images demonstrating the history of this cave. As new inhabitants (possibly nomadic peoples) used the cave for shelter, they continued the art by painting over already existing images.

Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-PdAuq70AJ985.png?alt=media&token=d99d4d91-ce68-4de1-b1b2-ad74b79e470e

Image Courtesy of Obelisk Art History

Form:

  • Bone, specifically from the sacrum (hip and tailbone) of an extinct camelid 🐪

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but some art historians believe that it was made to represent what they saw in their everyday lives like a canine.

  • It may have represented fertility, since the sacrum is located near the sexual organs.

Content:

  • A camelid bone is carved using tools to mimic the face of a canine.

Context:

  • The sacrum was seen as sacred by Mesoamerican cultures that came after this unit, such as the Aztecs and Mayans.

Running Horned Woman

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-G5uXOT2SiRFb.jpg?alt=media&token=c34076a8-131a-4046-9c06-9b3d3baaf297

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

  • Pigment (minerals mixed with a liquid) on rock

Function:

  • Because it shows the main figure running and the humans in the background in movement 🏃, art historians believe that this work was made to symbolize survival.

  • It may have also been made to represent the relationship between humans and animals, as evidenced by the animalistic horns on the woman.

  • It could also have religious implications as a representation of God, or a "Mother Earth" figure.

Content:

  • The (rock painting) pictures a woman in profile perspective running away from something unknown

  • She is covered in white dots, which some believe to be body paint, while others think it is ritual scarification (which is a sign of beauty in some cultures).

Context:

  • The work is in an elevated, secluded area ⛰️, which makes art historians believe that it may be located in what was a religious sanctuary.

  • Hunter-gatherers did not dress like the woman depicted in the work. This means that her clothing and accessories may be symbolic of something.

Bushel with Ibex Motifs

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-0csUQjiLa8na.jpg?alt=media&token=e7ee53ff-725d-427d-9fbb-731b7855540c

Image Courtesy of the Louvre Museum.

Form:

Function:

  • was buried in the graves of deceased people, suggesting that it was a funerary item; meaning that it was in reverence of the dead.

Content:

  • The work is a funerary bushel decorated with animal motifs, including a mountain goat 🐐, dogs 🐕, and birds 🐦, showing the prehistoric belief that a human's relationship with animals exists even in death.

  • The curved horns of the ibex 🐏 contrast with the surrounding geometric (made with shapes) designs and linear necks of the birds near the mouth of the bushel.

Context:

  • This work was found in Susa, Iran, which is near a fertile river valley. Because of this location, we can assume that Susa was a Neolithic settlement.

Anthropomorphic Stele

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-6uPORdw7TBhN.jpg?alt=media&token=bfd43dd1-38c2-44a0-82e6-c80cb5c412ab

Image Courtesy of the National Museum, Riyadh.

Form:

Function:

  • Many works like the have been found around the Arabian Peninsula, showing that they were valuable and important to prehistoric humans.

Content:

  • The stele is of an anthropomorphic (something that has characteristics of a human, but is not actually one) figure.

Context:

  • Steles are large upright rocks that contain information. This work was found along what used to be a trade route and is easily portable, suggesting that people would carry these while traveling. They may have possibly been used as good luck during travel, but art historians aren't completely sure.

Jade Cong

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-WPvCvBobaEcD.jpg_w%3D1200?alt=media&token=dab74bd1-343a-485c-844e-6d79e23da9a2

Image Courtesy of OHS APAH.

Form:

  • , which is extremely time-consuming and difficult to do.

Function:

  • These congs were found in graves, which suggests that they are funerary items, purposely placed there to protect the deceased in the afterlife.

  • Human and animal faces are carved into the cong, which may represent prehistoric humans' connection to nature.

Content:

  • Decorated with lines and circles, that are believed to be faces of ancestors (possibly making this work some type of ancestor veneration) or religious deities.

Context:

  • This work was found in the Yangzi River Delta of China, where Neolithic inhabitants had already began the transition to agriculture by planting rice.

Stonehenge

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-BCMBHtEsSHBU.jpg?alt=media&token=f9a66de6-abce-46ce-91a4-ac553317e1b9

Image Courtesy of Visit Wiltshire.

Form:

  • Standing pillars around 4 to 5 meters high

Function:

  • Some art historians believe that was a burial site for well-respected, powerful members of society.

  • However, most believe that it was an ancient astronomical observation center or temple for sun worshippers. It could have been used to mark when it was midsummer's solstice or midwinter's sunset based on the position of the sun. ☀️

Content:

  • It is constructed of vertical rocks (posts), which are supporting horizontal ones (lintel) above. This method of construction is known as post-and-lintel, which we'll see even more of in Unit 2.

Context:

  • was built over a period of 500 years, starting in 3100 BCE. Because so much time was dedicated to its construction, we can assume that it had an important purpose in Bronze Age England.

Ambum Stone

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-2VLo4wYVPXLg.jpg?alt=media&token=8b9ce34d-acd8-48ee-840e-7c96168c7c03

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but there are a few theories about how it was used. One of the more popular ones is that the had a religious purpose, since the early people of Papua New Guinea saw anteaters as sacred animals.

  • Some art historians believe that it was used as a pestle because of its smooth bottom.

Content:

  • The work depicts either an anteater or an echidna.

  • The content demonstrates a blending of human and animal features. Indicating the possible spiritual elements of the artifact: tying man and nature together.

Context:

  • The prehistoric people of Papua New Guinea had settled communities going into the Neolithic period, which allowed them to spend more time on art.

Tlatilco Female Figurines

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-u6m4yJYsrljo.jpg?alt=media&token=69c3c874-b259-4b42-a40d-1a821b60f664

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

Function:

  • This work was most likely made to represent fertility and the importance of females in prehistoric society as mothers.

  • It also may have been used in religious shamanistic rituals.

Content:

  • Art historians have debated about why this female figurine has two faces. Some believe that the artist was depicting a woman with a congenital defect, but many also think that it was made to reflect the pre-Columbian artistic ideal of dualism.

  • The woman has exaggerated thighs and hips with a narrow waist, and diminished hands and feet that places an emphasis on her body, possibly representing fertility.

Context:

  • Tlatilco existed anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 years before the Aztecs (you may want to remember this for Unit 5!)

Terra-Cotta Fragment

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vnO64fOAb3Yn.jpg_w%3D523?alt=media&token=a3b75441-07f4-41f3-a23e-7c25a3eb184f

Image Courtesy of OHS APAH.

Form:

  • Incised (a form of relief that involves scratching/carving imprints on an object) on terra-cotta

Function:

  • The fragment once belonged to a much larger cooking pot that was either used for storing or cooking food

  • It may have also played a role in ritualistic, religious ceremonies.

Content:

  • The fragment is decorated with anthropomorphic images that were created using a technique known as . Artists would carve designs into natural materials like shells or wood and use them to stamp a design into the terra-cotta before it dried.

  • The human face pictured on the work has linear features like the nose bridge, which contrast with the circular patterns on the rest of it.

Context:

  • The prehistoric Lapita people of the Solomon Islands who created this work are well-known for their pottery.

Key Terms to Review (23)

Ambum Stone

: The Ambum Stone is a prehistoric stone artifact from Papua New Guinea, known for its intricate carvings of animals. It is believed to have been used in rituals or ceremonies.

Anthropomorphic Stele

: An anthropomorphic stele is a stone slab or pillar carved with a human figure or figures. These sculptures were often used as grave markers or commemorative monuments in ancient civilizations.

Apollo 11 Stones

: The Apollo 11 Stones are a collection of small rocks found in Namibia that bear some of the earliest known examples of prehistoric art. They depict simple animal figures engraved on their surfaces.

Bone carving

: Bone carving involves shaping bones into artistic forms through cutting, scraping, grinding, and polishing techniques.

Bushel With Ibex Motifs

: The Bushel with Ibex Motifs is a ceramic vessel from ancient Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3400-3100 BCE. It features intricate designs of animals, including ibexes, painted in a naturalistic style.

Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

: The Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine is a Mesoamerican sculpture made from the sacrum bone of an animal resembling a dog or wolf. It was likely used for ceremonial purposes and represents the fusion of human and animal forms.

Carved jade

: Carved jade refers to the process of shaping and sculpting jade into intricate designs or figures. Jade is a precious stone known for its beauty and symbolism in many cultures.

Ceramic

: Ceramic refers to objects made from clay that are hardened through firing. It includes pottery, tiles, and other items that are typically decorated with glazes.

Dentate Stamping

: Dentate stamping is a technique used in ancient pottery where the rim of a vessel is decorated with small, triangular impressions resembling teeth. It was commonly seen in Greek and Etruscan pottery.

Great Hall of Bulls

: The Great Hall of Bulls is a section within the Lascaux Cave complex in France. It contains remarkable Paleolithic cave paintings depicting various animals, including bulls, horses, and deer.

Greywacke

: Greywacke is a type of hard, dark-colored sandstone that is commonly used in sculpture. It has a rough texture and is often found in ancient Egyptian art.

Incised terra-cotta

: Incised terra-cotta refers to clay objects where designs or patterns are carved into the surface using sharp tools. This technique creates decorative elements on terra-cotta sculptures or architectural features.

Jade Cong

: A jade cong is a type of ancient Chinese ritual object made from jade. It has a square outer shape with circular holes at each end and represents the connection between heaven and earth.

Natural pigment on rock

: Natural pigment on rock refers to the use of naturally occurring materials, such as minerals or plant extracts, to create pigments for painting on rocks or cave walls.

Painted terra-cotta

: Painted terra-cotta refers to ceramic objects, typically made from fired clay, that are decorated with painted designs or colors. It is a technique used in various cultures throughout history.

Pictograph

: A pictograph is a visual representation of an object, idea, or event through simple drawings or symbols. It is a form of communication that uses easily recognizable images.

Pigment on rock

: Pigment on rock refers to the use of natural pigments, such as minerals or earth materials, applied onto rocks or cave walls to create images. It is one of the earliest forms of artistic expression.

Post-and-lintel construction

: Post-and-lintel construction is an architectural technique that involves using vertical posts (uprights) and horizontal beams (lintels) to create a structure. The lintels rest on top of the posts, creating openings for doors, windows, or other architectural elements.

Running Horned Woman

: The Running Horned Woman is an ancient rock carving found in Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria. This artwork depicts a female figure with horns running alongside her head. It is believed to be a representation of a deity or a shamanic figure.

Sandstone

: Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. It is often used in architecture and sculpture due to its durability and ability to be carved.

Stonehenge

: Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England. It consists of a circular arrangement of massive standing stones, some weighing up to 25 tons each, believed to have been erected around 2500 BCE.

Therianthrope

: A therianthrope refers to a creature that has both human and animal characteristics, often depicted in art.

Tlatilco Female Figurines

: Tlatilco Female Figurines are small ceramic sculptures created by the ancient people of Tlatilco in present-day Mexico. These figurines depict women with exaggerated features, such as large eyes and prominent breasts.

1.4 Unit 1 Required Works

8 min readjanuary 22, 2023

Charly Castillo

Charly Castillo

Laurie Accede

Laurie Accede

Charly Castillo

Charly Castillo

Laurie Accede

Laurie Accede

The FFCCs of Unit 1

Unit 1 has 11 works, and you need to know all of their FFCCs (forms, functions, contents, and contexts) for the exam.

  1. Form- What materials is the artwork made from? What is its medium?

  2. Function- Why was this artwork created? What is its purpose?

  3. Content- What did the artist draw, paint, sculpt, etc.? What do you see in the image?

  4. Context- What is the history related to the image? All the circumstances around the works creation such as the location, time period, environment, etc.

This may sound like a daunting task, but luckily, Unit 1 is one of the shortest ones in the whole course. So, without further ado, the works of Unit 1.

Apollo 11 Stones

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7pRl5mWTCrhA.jpg?alt=media&token=5575657c-403c-4778-ac24-10160348e27a

Image Courtesy of the State Museum of Namibia.

Form:

  • Charcoal on stone

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but being portable may have something to do with how it was once used. It could have been used for storytelling or for animal worship.

Content:

  • The two most supported theories is that this work depicts either a four-legged animal common to the peoples' lives, or (a mythical being that is part human and part animal) in profile.

  • Art historians that believe that the work depicts a say that the body is that of a feline and the legs are human, possibly those of a shaman.

Context:

  • The stones were discovered the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landings (1969), so they were named after the historical event.

  • One of the oldest artifacts in the world.

Great Hall of Bulls

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7ROBO6AqJJ1E.jpg?alt=media&token=2b3c9150-78d4-4061-a585-3740793b738f

Image Courtesy of Smarthistory.

Form:

  • Natural pigment (charcoal, ochre, soot, crushed up berries/flowers, etc.) on rock

Function:

  • The purpose of this work is to represent the importance of animals to prehistoric hunter-gatherers as a source of food. This work could have been used to show members of the community about the animals surrounding them.

  • Another theory is that the painting was used in religious rituals or during storytelling.

Content:

  • Women are depicted gathering 👩‍🌾, while men are shown hunting 🏹, showing the stratification of labor by sex in the Paleolithic period.

  • The various animals are drawn quite large, showing prehistoric people's respect for them.

Context:

  • Because the cave is nearly 250 meters long and difficult to access, we can assume that it was meant to be entered by a specific group of people, most likely those who were well-respected. This supports the theory of the being a site for shaman's religious rituals.

  • It is also said that people may have inhabited this cave for thousands of years. There are many overlapping, or superimposed images demonstrating the history of this cave. As new inhabitants (possibly nomadic peoples) used the cave for shelter, they continued the art by painting over already existing images.

Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-PdAuq70AJ985.png?alt=media&token=d99d4d91-ce68-4de1-b1b2-ad74b79e470e

Image Courtesy of Obelisk Art History

Form:

  • Bone, specifically from the sacrum (hip and tailbone) of an extinct camelid 🐪

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but some art historians believe that it was made to represent what they saw in their everyday lives like a canine.

  • It may have represented fertility, since the sacrum is located near the sexual organs.

Content:

  • A camelid bone is carved using tools to mimic the face of a canine.

Context:

  • The sacrum was seen as sacred by Mesoamerican cultures that came after this unit, such as the Aztecs and Mayans.

Running Horned Woman

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-G5uXOT2SiRFb.jpg?alt=media&token=c34076a8-131a-4046-9c06-9b3d3baaf297

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

  • Pigment (minerals mixed with a liquid) on rock

Function:

  • Because it shows the main figure running and the humans in the background in movement 🏃, art historians believe that this work was made to symbolize survival.

  • It may have also been made to represent the relationship between humans and animals, as evidenced by the animalistic horns on the woman.

  • It could also have religious implications as a representation of God, or a "Mother Earth" figure.

Content:

  • The (rock painting) pictures a woman in profile perspective running away from something unknown

  • She is covered in white dots, which some believe to be body paint, while others think it is ritual scarification (which is a sign of beauty in some cultures).

Context:

  • The work is in an elevated, secluded area ⛰️, which makes art historians believe that it may be located in what was a religious sanctuary.

  • Hunter-gatherers did not dress like the woman depicted in the work. This means that her clothing and accessories may be symbolic of something.

Bushel with Ibex Motifs

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-0csUQjiLa8na.jpg?alt=media&token=e7ee53ff-725d-427d-9fbb-731b7855540c

Image Courtesy of the Louvre Museum.

Form:

Function:

  • was buried in the graves of deceased people, suggesting that it was a funerary item; meaning that it was in reverence of the dead.

Content:

  • The work is a funerary bushel decorated with animal motifs, including a mountain goat 🐐, dogs 🐕, and birds 🐦, showing the prehistoric belief that a human's relationship with animals exists even in death.

  • The curved horns of the ibex 🐏 contrast with the surrounding geometric (made with shapes) designs and linear necks of the birds near the mouth of the bushel.

Context:

  • This work was found in Susa, Iran, which is near a fertile river valley. Because of this location, we can assume that Susa was a Neolithic settlement.

Anthropomorphic Stele

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-6uPORdw7TBhN.jpg?alt=media&token=bfd43dd1-38c2-44a0-82e6-c80cb5c412ab

Image Courtesy of the National Museum, Riyadh.

Form:

Function:

  • Many works like the have been found around the Arabian Peninsula, showing that they were valuable and important to prehistoric humans.

Content:

  • The stele is of an anthropomorphic (something that has characteristics of a human, but is not actually one) figure.

Context:

  • Steles are large upright rocks that contain information. This work was found along what used to be a trade route and is easily portable, suggesting that people would carry these while traveling. They may have possibly been used as good luck during travel, but art historians aren't completely sure.

Jade Cong

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-WPvCvBobaEcD.jpg_w%3D1200?alt=media&token=dab74bd1-343a-485c-844e-6d79e23da9a2

Image Courtesy of OHS APAH.

Form:

  • , which is extremely time-consuming and difficult to do.

Function:

  • These congs were found in graves, which suggests that they are funerary items, purposely placed there to protect the deceased in the afterlife.

  • Human and animal faces are carved into the cong, which may represent prehistoric humans' connection to nature.

Content:

  • Decorated with lines and circles, that are believed to be faces of ancestors (possibly making this work some type of ancestor veneration) or religious deities.

Context:

  • This work was found in the Yangzi River Delta of China, where Neolithic inhabitants had already began the transition to agriculture by planting rice.

Stonehenge

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-BCMBHtEsSHBU.jpg?alt=media&token=f9a66de6-abce-46ce-91a4-ac553317e1b9

Image Courtesy of Visit Wiltshire.

Form:

  • Standing pillars around 4 to 5 meters high

Function:

  • Some art historians believe that was a burial site for well-respected, powerful members of society.

  • However, most believe that it was an ancient astronomical observation center or temple for sun worshippers. It could have been used to mark when it was midsummer's solstice or midwinter's sunset based on the position of the sun. ☀️

Content:

  • It is constructed of vertical rocks (posts), which are supporting horizontal ones (lintel) above. This method of construction is known as post-and-lintel, which we'll see even more of in Unit 2.

Context:

  • was built over a period of 500 years, starting in 3100 BCE. Because so much time was dedicated to its construction, we can assume that it had an important purpose in Bronze Age England.

Ambum Stone

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-2VLo4wYVPXLg.jpg?alt=media&token=8b9ce34d-acd8-48ee-840e-7c96168c7c03

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

Function:

  • The function is unknown, but there are a few theories about how it was used. One of the more popular ones is that the had a religious purpose, since the early people of Papua New Guinea saw anteaters as sacred animals.

  • Some art historians believe that it was used as a pestle because of its smooth bottom.

Content:

  • The work depicts either an anteater or an echidna.

  • The content demonstrates a blending of human and animal features. Indicating the possible spiritual elements of the artifact: tying man and nature together.

Context:

  • The prehistoric people of Papua New Guinea had settled communities going into the Neolithic period, which allowed them to spend more time on art.

Tlatilco Female Figurines

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-u6m4yJYsrljo.jpg?alt=media&token=69c3c874-b259-4b42-a40d-1a821b60f664

Image Courtesy of Khan Academy.

Form:

Function:

  • This work was most likely made to represent fertility and the importance of females in prehistoric society as mothers.

  • It also may have been used in religious shamanistic rituals.

Content:

  • Art historians have debated about why this female figurine has two faces. Some believe that the artist was depicting a woman with a congenital defect, but many also think that it was made to reflect the pre-Columbian artistic ideal of dualism.

  • The woman has exaggerated thighs and hips with a narrow waist, and diminished hands and feet that places an emphasis on her body, possibly representing fertility.

Context:

  • Tlatilco existed anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 years before the Aztecs (you may want to remember this for Unit 5!)

Terra-Cotta Fragment

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vnO64fOAb3Yn.jpg_w%3D523?alt=media&token=a3b75441-07f4-41f3-a23e-7c25a3eb184f

Image Courtesy of OHS APAH.

Form:

  • Incised (a form of relief that involves scratching/carving imprints on an object) on terra-cotta

Function:

  • The fragment once belonged to a much larger cooking pot that was either used for storing or cooking food

  • It may have also played a role in ritualistic, religious ceremonies.

Content:

  • The fragment is decorated with anthropomorphic images that were created using a technique known as . Artists would carve designs into natural materials like shells or wood and use them to stamp a design into the terra-cotta before it dried.

  • The human face pictured on the work has linear features like the nose bridge, which contrast with the circular patterns on the rest of it.

Context:

  • The prehistoric Lapita people of the Solomon Islands who created this work are well-known for their pottery.

Key Terms to Review (23)

Ambum Stone

: The Ambum Stone is a prehistoric stone artifact from Papua New Guinea, known for its intricate carvings of animals. It is believed to have been used in rituals or ceremonies.

Anthropomorphic Stele

: An anthropomorphic stele is a stone slab or pillar carved with a human figure or figures. These sculptures were often used as grave markers or commemorative monuments in ancient civilizations.

Apollo 11 Stones

: The Apollo 11 Stones are a collection of small rocks found in Namibia that bear some of the earliest known examples of prehistoric art. They depict simple animal figures engraved on their surfaces.

Bone carving

: Bone carving involves shaping bones into artistic forms through cutting, scraping, grinding, and polishing techniques.

Bushel With Ibex Motifs

: The Bushel with Ibex Motifs is a ceramic vessel from ancient Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3400-3100 BCE. It features intricate designs of animals, including ibexes, painted in a naturalistic style.

Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

: The Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine is a Mesoamerican sculpture made from the sacrum bone of an animal resembling a dog or wolf. It was likely used for ceremonial purposes and represents the fusion of human and animal forms.

Carved jade

: Carved jade refers to the process of shaping and sculpting jade into intricate designs or figures. Jade is a precious stone known for its beauty and symbolism in many cultures.

Ceramic

: Ceramic refers to objects made from clay that are hardened through firing. It includes pottery, tiles, and other items that are typically decorated with glazes.

Dentate Stamping

: Dentate stamping is a technique used in ancient pottery where the rim of a vessel is decorated with small, triangular impressions resembling teeth. It was commonly seen in Greek and Etruscan pottery.

Great Hall of Bulls

: The Great Hall of Bulls is a section within the Lascaux Cave complex in France. It contains remarkable Paleolithic cave paintings depicting various animals, including bulls, horses, and deer.

Greywacke

: Greywacke is a type of hard, dark-colored sandstone that is commonly used in sculpture. It has a rough texture and is often found in ancient Egyptian art.

Incised terra-cotta

: Incised terra-cotta refers to clay objects where designs or patterns are carved into the surface using sharp tools. This technique creates decorative elements on terra-cotta sculptures or architectural features.

Jade Cong

: A jade cong is a type of ancient Chinese ritual object made from jade. It has a square outer shape with circular holes at each end and represents the connection between heaven and earth.

Natural pigment on rock

: Natural pigment on rock refers to the use of naturally occurring materials, such as minerals or plant extracts, to create pigments for painting on rocks or cave walls.

Painted terra-cotta

: Painted terra-cotta refers to ceramic objects, typically made from fired clay, that are decorated with painted designs or colors. It is a technique used in various cultures throughout history.

Pictograph

: A pictograph is a visual representation of an object, idea, or event through simple drawings or symbols. It is a form of communication that uses easily recognizable images.

Pigment on rock

: Pigment on rock refers to the use of natural pigments, such as minerals or earth materials, applied onto rocks or cave walls to create images. It is one of the earliest forms of artistic expression.

Post-and-lintel construction

: Post-and-lintel construction is an architectural technique that involves using vertical posts (uprights) and horizontal beams (lintels) to create a structure. The lintels rest on top of the posts, creating openings for doors, windows, or other architectural elements.

Running Horned Woman

: The Running Horned Woman is an ancient rock carving found in Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria. This artwork depicts a female figure with horns running alongside her head. It is believed to be a representation of a deity or a shamanic figure.

Sandstone

: Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. It is often used in architecture and sculpture due to its durability and ability to be carved.

Stonehenge

: Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England. It consists of a circular arrangement of massive standing stones, some weighing up to 25 tons each, believed to have been erected around 2500 BCE.

Therianthrope

: A therianthrope refers to a creature that has both human and animal characteristics, often depicted in art.

Tlatilco Female Figurines

: Tlatilco Female Figurines are small ceramic sculptures created by the ancient people of Tlatilco in present-day Mexico. These figurines depict women with exaggerated features, such as large eyes and prominent breasts.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.