Unit 13 Prehistory

Prehistory/ Prehistoria

Palaeolithic/ Paleolítico

Appearance/ Aparición, Apariencia

Human Beings/ Seres Humanos

Period/ Período, Época

Age/ Era, (edad)

Neolithic/ Neolítico

Caves/ Cuevas

Walls/Pared, Muro

Roofs/Tejado

Feathers/Pluma

Hairs/Pelos

Brushes/Pincel, Cepillo

Minerals/Minerales

Crush/Aplastar

Mix/Mezcla

Stone/Piedra

Sculpture/Escultura

Venus Figurines/Figura de Venus

Paintings/Cuadro de pintura

Hunting/Cazando

Scene/Escena

Gathering/Recolectando

Drew/Dibujó, Dibujaron

Monument/Monumento

Megalith/Megalitico

Prehistory

Prehistory is the first period in history and also the longest.  On the Iberian Peninsula, it starts with the appearance of human beings about a million years ago and ends with the appearance of writing, about 3,000 years ago.  It is divided into three periods: The Paleolithic Age, the Neolithic Age, the Metal Ages.

The first artists appeared in the Paleolithic Age.  They painted animals on the walls and the roofs of caves.  They used their hands as well as feathers and animal hairs as brushes.  They obtained different colored paints from minerals, which they crushed and mixed with animal fat.  They also made small stone sculptures that represented women called Venus Figurines.

Paintings in the Neolithic Age were different from the Paleolithic age.  In the Neolithic age they painted hunting scenes and people dancing or gathering plants.  They drew simple figures in only one color.  There are various examples if this art on the Mediterranean coast.

People who lived in the Metal Age made monuments with big stones called megaliths.  For this reason they are called Megalith Monuments.  Stonehenge is a famous megalithic monument in England.  In Spain, the Dolmens of Menga, Viera and El Romeral in Antequera are famous megalithic monuments.