A brief introduction into Stone Age and Mesopotamian art.

2.  B.C. – Before Christ
 A.D. – Anno Domini (The Year of Our Lord)
There is no year “0” the year
1 A.D. follows the year 1 B.C.
The first art objects were not created out of
decoration but as spiritual symbols.

3. The Stone Age
The Stone Age is divided into three periods
Paleolithic • Mesolithic • Neolithic
Paleo: Ancient • Meso: Middle • Neo: New
The Paleolithic accounts for 98% of the Stone Age (also called
“prehistoric art”)
Materials included: stone, bone, antlers, mammoth ivory and
pigments & charcoal possibly from face/body painting

4.  The main form of prehistoric art is “rock art” which includes
petroglyphs and pictographs.
PETROGLYPHS PICTOGRAPHS
(rock carvings/engravings) (paintings/drawings)

5. Stone Age Art
Cave Painting at Lascaux, France c. 15,000-13,000 B.C.

6. England, 3000 B.C. – 2000 B.C.
Stonehenge Astronomical calendar or burial grounds

7. Modern day Iraq, significant
Mesopotamia cultural developments like
early writings, schools, libraries
“land between rivers” and irrigation

8. Mesoptamian Art
Architecture, warrior art & story telling stone reliefs
Gate of Ishtar
Babylonian
575 B.C.
Comissioned by King
Nebuchadnezzar II

9. Tower of Babel

10. Stone Painting Examples