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This time period spanned from 3.3 million years ago to 10,000 BCE. The Upper Paleolithic Period which lasted from 45,000 to 10,000 BCE, marked a significant culmination in early human development in both art and tool making. During this time that people made tools from stone, bone, and ivory. Their artistic creations involved sculptures, paintings, and musical instruments. Which shows the emergence of symbolic thought and cultural development.
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The Venus of Brassempouy is one of the earliest representations of the human face, demonstrating the artistic sophistication of the upper Paleolithic period. Despite its small size, the figurine features remarkably defined facial features. -
These art works display advanced techniques like shading, perspective, and motion. They are believed to have had ritual, symbolic, or shamanic meaning, possibly linked to hunting or spiritual beliefs. -
Cueva de las Manos holds great significance as a striking example of early human symbolic expression and community identity. The hundreds of hand prints and hunting scenes suggest ritual or social functions, possibly related to initiation rites or storytelling. -
It began around 10,000 BCE and lasted until 2,200 BCE. The Neolithic Period marked a major shift in human lifestyle from hunting and gathering to settled farming and food production. During this time, people began to domesticate animals, grow crops, and build permanent homes and villages. Their art included pottery, paintings, and ancient stone monuments, which reflected their changing relationship with the land and the development of religious or ceremonial practices.
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The plastered scars of Jericho are some of the earliest examples of ancestor homage, reflecting the ritual and spiritual practices of neolithic farming communities. Modeled with plaster and shells, they reveal both artistic skill and a deep connection between the living and the dead. -
The painted pottery of the Yangshao culture illustrates the symbolic and decorative traditions of early Chinese neolithic societies. Featuring bold geometric designs and animal motif skulls, these vessels demonstrate both functional craftsmanship and ritual significance.