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Glossary for AP Content Area 1: Global Prehistory

by Smarthistory
A glossary of basic terminology that is often used in discussions about global prehistoric art.

TermDefinition
anthropomorphichuman-like
art mobiliersmall-scale prehistoric art that is moveable, such as the Apollo 11 Cave Stones
Apollo 11 Cave Stones, Namibia, c. 25,500–25,300 B.C.E
Apollo 11 Cave Stones, Namibia, c. 25,500–25,300 B.C.E
aviansomething relating to birds
bicephalictwo-headed figures
Tlatilco female figurine
Bovidthe Bovidae are the biological family of mammals that includes bison, African buffalo, water buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, sheep, goats, muskoxen, and domestic cattle
camelida member of the Camelidae family, such as camels, llamas, and alpacas
dentatesomething that has a tooth-like or serrated edge
exogenous materialsmaterials that originated elsewhere
Hominidsa primate of family (Hominidae) that includes humans and their fossil ancestors, and also some great apes; humans evolved from an earlier specifics of hominids
Homo sapiensanatomically modern humans who evolved from an earlier species of hominids
maizealso known as corn; first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in what is today Mexico c. 10,000 years ago
Melanesiarefers to a region of the western Pacific that includes the islands and island groups of Fiji, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
Mesoamericarefers to the diverse civilizations that shared similar cultural characteristics in the geographic areas comprising the modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
Micronesiathe region of the western Pacific referred to as Micronesia includes the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Kiribati, Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Wake Island
Middle Stone Agea period of African prehistory between the Early Stone Age and the Later Stone Age, generally considered to have begun around 280,000 years ago and ended around 50–25,000 years ago
mortars and pestlesa mortar is a bowl and pestle is an object used to grind against the sides of the mortar; they are commonly made of hard material such as stone and are often used to prepare food
a pestle known as the Ambum Stone, c. 1500 B.C.E,  Papua New Guinea
a pestle known as the Ambum Stone, c. 1500 B.C.E,  Papua New Guinea
Neanderthalsan extinct species of humans named after the site in which their bones were first discovered—the Neander Valley in Germany; they existed between c. 120,000–35,000 years ago
Neolithic periodliterally means "New Stone Age," and dates from the 6th–4th millennium B.C.E.
Neolithic Revolutiondates to c. 10,00–3,000 B.C.E, and refers to when humans began to settle into communities, domesticate animals, and grow crops
nomadan individual who roams about without a fixed residence
oryxa large grazing antelope
paddle-and-anvil techniquea method of smoothing and finishing the walls of hand-made pottery; the anvil is held against the inner walls while a paddle is used to shape the outer surface
Paleolithicliterally means "Old Stone Age," and dates from c. 2.5 millions years ago–10,000 B.C.E. It predates the Neolithic period
petroglypha rock engraving in which an image has been pecked or cut into the rock
Petroglyph from Tamgaly Gorge, dating from the second half of the second millennium B.C.E.–20th century, Kazakhstan
Petroglyph from Tamgaly Gorge, dating from the second half of the second millennium B.C.E.–20th century, Kazakhstan
Polynesian Trianglestretches from Hawai'i in the north to Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the south, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the east
potsherdsfragments of pottery
prehistoricliterally means before the invention of writing
sacrumthe large triangular bone at the base of the spine
Camelid sacrum in the shape of a canine
Camelid sacrum in the shape of a canine
shamana kind of priest or healer with powers involving the ability to communicate with spirits of other worlds
Shang Dynastythe earliest Chinese dynasty verified by scholars, ruling from c. 1600–1050 B.C.E.
simting bilong tumbunaliterally translates as the “bones of the ancestors”; Enga term for a class of cult objects which were used as powerful ritual mechanisms where ancestors reside
slipped potterymade up of tiny particles of clay suspended in water and can be colored with iron oxide or other minerals to decorate the surface of a pot
stelea vertical stone monument or marker often inscribed with text or relief carving
Anthropomorphic stele, Saudi Arabia, 4th millennium BCE
Anthropomorphic stele, Saudi Arabia, 4th millennium BCE
stratigraphic archaeologythe study of stratification, or layers deposited one atop another over time
temperoften sand or other added materials, temper reduces the elasticity of clay (how much it shrinks) and helps to avoid cracking during the firing process
Therianthropea supernatural creature that is part animal and part human
trilithona pair of upright stones with a lintel stone spanning their tops
twisted perspectivewhen animal bodies are depicted in profile while we see the horns from a more frontal viewpoint
Left wall of the Hall of Bulls, Lascaux II (replica), original cave: c. 16,000-14,000 B.C.E.
Left wall of the Hall of Bulls, Lascaux II (replica), original cave: c. 16,000-14,000 B.C.E.

* Thank you to Nadia Scott for her help preparing this glossary.

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