In the history of art, prehistoric art refers to all art made by cultures that did not have writing or other ways to keep records. This art began in very early times and continued until a culture developed writing or came into contact with another culture that had writing and recorded major events. When this happened, ancient art started for those older cultures. The time when prehistoric art ended varies widely across different parts of the world.

The earliest human objects that show signs of artistic purpose are still being studied. It is certain that such art existed 40,000 years ago during the Upper Paleolithic era, but it may have started even earlier. In September 2018, scientists found what is believed to be the oldest known drawing made by Homo sapiens, dating back about 73,000 years. This is much older than the previously known 43,000-year-old drawings by modern humans.

Engraved shells made by Homo erectus as far back as 500,000 years ago have been discovered. However, some experts debate whether these engravings should be considered true art. From the Upper Paleolithic period through the Mesolithic, cave paintings and portable art, such as figurines and beads, were common. Decorative designs also appeared on some tools used for daily tasks. During the Neolithic period, early pottery, sculpture, and large stone structures called megaliths were created. Rock art also began during this time. The Bronze Age introduced new materials for making art, leading to more varied styles and the creation of art for no practical purpose. This period also saw the rise of specialized artists and the development of early writing systems. By the Iron Age, many civilizations, including those in Ancient Egypt and Ancient China, had writing systems.

Many indigenous groups around the world continued making art that reflected their regions and cultures until exploration and trade brought record-keeping methods to them. Some cultures, like the Maya civilization, created writing systems on their own during their time of growth, but these systems were later lost. These cultures may still be considered prehistoric, especially if their writing systems have not been fully understood.

Paleolithic era

The earliest art that is not disputed comes from the Homo sapiens Aurignacian culture in the Upper Paleolithic period. However, some evidence suggests that an interest in beauty may have started earlier, during the Middle Paleolithic period, which lasted from 100,000 to 50,000 years ago. Some archaeologists believe certain Middle Paleolithic artifacts show early signs of artistic expression. For example, the symmetry of tools and attention to their shape have led some researchers to think that Acheulean hand axes and laurel points might have been made with artistic intent.

A zigzag engraving, possibly made with a shark tooth on a freshwater Pseudodon shell called DUB1006-fL, dates back about 500,000 years and is linked to Homo erectus. This could be the earliest sign of artistic activity, but the purpose of the design is unclear.

Other examples from the Middle Paleolithic include the "Venus of Tan-Tan" (older than 300,000 years) and the "Venus of Berekhat Ram" (250,000 years old). In 2002, engraved stones with grid or cross-hatch patterns were found in Blombos Cave in South Africa, dated to about 70,000 years ago. These findings suggest early Homo sapiens may have created abstract or symbolic art. However, some scientists, like Richard Klein, are unsure if these engravings qualify as true art.

In September 2018, the oldest known drawing by Homo sapiens was discovered in South Africa, estimated to be 73,000 years old. The drawing shows a crosshatched pattern made of nine fine lines. The lines stop at the edges of the fragment, suggesting the design originally covered a larger area and was more complex. To confirm the drawing was made by Homo sapiens, scientists used chemical analysis and found the lines were likely made with ochre. This discovery helps scientists better understand early human behavior and thinking.

Neanderthals may have created art as well. Painted designs in La Pasiega Cave (Cantabria), a hand stencil in Maltravieso Cave (Extremadura), and red-painted speleothems in Ardales Cave (Andalusia) date back 64,800 years, long before modern humans arrived in Europe. In 2021, scientists found a bone carving made by Neanderthals about 51,000 years ago, one of the oldest known works of art.

In November 2018, scientists discovered the oldest known figurative art painting in Borneo, Indonesia, estimated to be over 40,000 years old (possibly as old as 52,000 years). The painting shows an unknown animal. In 2020, a Megaloceros bone with carvings by Neanderthals was found in Germany, dated to 51,000 years ago.

The oldest undisputed figurative art was found in the Schwäbische Alb region of Germany, including the Venus of Hohle Fels and the Lion-man figurine, both dated to about 40,000 years ago.

Art from the Upper Paleolithic period (40,000 to 10,000 years ago) includes cave paintings, such as those in Chauvet, Altamira, Pech Merle, Arcy-sur-Cure, and Lascaux, as well as portable art like Venus figurines (e.g., the Venus of Willendorf) and animal carvings (e.g., the Swimming Reindeer and Wolverine pendant).

Paintings in Pettakere Cave on Sulawesi, Indonesia, are up to 40,000 years old, similar in age to the oldest European cave art. This may suggest a shared origin for such art in Africa.

Monumental open-air art in Europe from this period includes rock art in the Côa Valley and Mazouco (Portugal), Domingo García and Siega Verde (Spain), and Rocher gravé de Fornols (France).

A cave in Turobong, South Korea, with human remains also contains carved deer bones and deer depictions, possibly 40,000 years old. Petroglyphs of deer or reindeer

Asia

Asia was the birthplace of many important civilizations, including those in China and South Asia. The early history of eastern Asia is especially interesting because China introduced writing and record-keeping early, which influenced nearby cultures. In Mesopotamia, writing was also introduced very early, so few of its rich artistic traditions are considered prehistoric. However, neighboring cultures like Urartu, Luristan, and Persia had complex artistic traditions.

The earliest Indian paintings were rock art from prehistoric times, such as petroglyphs found in places like the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, some dating to about 8,000 BC. The Indus Valley civilization created small stamp seals and sculptures, and may have used writing. After the civilization collapsed, few artistic remains survived until the literate period, likely because many materials used were not long-lasting.

The Gobustan National Park in Azerbaijan, near Baku, has rock carvings more than 12,000 years old. These carvings show hunting scenes, humans, and animals. Some images resemble Viking ships. The park is also known for a type of natural stone called Gavaldash, which produces musical sounds when struck.

In Neolithic China, painted pottery from the Yangshao and Longshan cultures of the Yellow River valley dates back thousands of years. During the Bronze Age, the Shang and Zhou dynasties created elaborate ritual bronzes used in ancestor worship, decorated with taotie motifs and inscriptions. In 1987, discoveries in Sanxingdui revealed a previously unknown Bronze Age culture with large bronze figures, which looked very different from the Shang dynasty but were part of China’s continuous cultural tradition.

Archaeological evidence shows that the Jōmon people in ancient Japan were among the first to make pottery, dating back to the 11th millennium BCE. They decorated their pottery by pressing wet clay with cords or sticks.

The earliest examples of Korean art are Stone Age works from around 3000 BCE, mostly votive sculptures and petroglyphs. Rock art, stone tools, and pottery were also common.

After this early period, Korean art styles reflected the influence of Chinese culture, but with unique Korean preferences for simplicity, nature, and spontaneity. These styles later influenced Japanese art due to cultural and geographic connections.

The prehistory of Korea ends with the founding of the Three Kingdoms, recorded in the 12th-century Samguk Sagi, which notes their beginnings in the 1st century BCE. Earlier history is also mentioned in Chinese texts like the Sanguo Zhi from the 3rd century CE.

Clearer evidence of culture appears during the Jeulmun pottery period in Korea’s late Neolithic era, around 6000–4500 BCE. Pottery from this time had comb-like patterns and pointed bases. Shell masks and clay figurines have also been found.

During the Mumun pottery period (1500–300 BCE), agriculture expanded, and larger villages and more elaborate burials appeared. Megalithic tombs and dolmens were common. Pottery from this time was usually undecorated. These changes may have been caused by people moving into the region, though this is debated. Rock art panels in southern Korea are thought to date from this period.

Bronze was used in Korea by about 700 BCE, with items like daggers, mirrors, and belt buckles. By the 1st century BCE, a distinct bronze culture was widespread.

Between 300 BCE and the founding of the Three Kingdoms around 300 CE, trade with China and Japan increased. Chinese records mention the expansion of Chinese control in northern Korea, leading to the establishment of commanderies like Lelang near modern Pyongyang. Artifacts from this period show Han-style influences.

Chinese histories also note the start of ironworking in Korea around the 1st century BCE. Stoneware and kiln-fired pottery from this time have been found, though dates are debated. Pottery and metalwork from Japan and China have also been discovered in Korea.

Art from the Steppes, such as golden jewelry and horse trappings, has been found across regions from Hungary to Mongolia, dating to the 7th–3rd centuries BCE. These items often feature animal scenes and were made by nomadic groups. The Scythians, a well-known group in Europe, buried gold items in royal tombs. One famous discovery was a royal burial at Pazyryk in the Altay Mountains, which included the oldest known pile rug, likely from Persia.

In northern regions, organic materials like wood and textiles sometimes survived in burials, which is rare for prehistoric remains. Steppes people exchanged influences with cultures from Europe to China, and later Scythian art showed Greek styles, possibly made by Greek artisans in Scythia.

The Ain Sakhri Lovers, a small carving in calcite from modern Israel, dates to about 9,000 BCE. Around the same time, Göbekli Tepe in eastern Turkey was built. During its first phase, known as the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA), massive T-shaped stone pillars were erected in circles—some of the world’s oldest megaliths. Over 200 pillars in about 20 circles have been identified, each up to 6 meters tall and weighing 10 tons. In the second phase, known as the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB), more structures were added.

Europe

The Art of the Upper Paleolithic includes carvings on antler and bone, especially of animals, as well as Venus figurines and cave paintings, as discussed earlier. The Mesolithic period shows a decrease in the quality of art compared to the Upper Paleolithic, even though the climate was warmer. Rock art is found in Scandinavia, northern Russia, eastern Spain, and northern Italy (such as in Valcamonica), but not in areas between these regions. Examples of portable art include painted pebbles from the Azilian culture, which followed the Magdalenian, and patterns on tools, like paddles from Tybrind Vig, Denmark. Mesolithic statues from Lepenski Vir in Serbia, dating to the 7th millennium BCE, show human figures or mixtures of humans and fish. Simple pottery began to appear in many places, even where farming had not yet started.

Compared to the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, fewer Mesolithic artworks have survived. Rock art in the Iberian Mediterranean Basin, which likely began in the Upper Paleolithic, is widespread but less well known than Paleolithic cave paintings. These artworks are now found mostly on open-air cliff faces, with human figures as the main subjects, often shown in groups. At Roca dels Moros, 45 figures are depicted, wearing clothing and engaging in activities like dancing, fighting, hunting, and gathering food. The figures are smaller and more abstract than Paleolithic animals, but they are often shown in active poses. Small engraved pendants with holes for hanging and simple designs have been found, made from materials like amber in northern Europe and shale in Britain.

Rock art in the Urals shows changes similar to those after the Paleolithic. The wooden Shigir Idol, made from larch, is a rare example of what may have been a common material for sculpture. It has geometric patterns and a human head at the top. Now broken, it was likely over 5 meters tall when completed.

In Central Europe, Neolithic cultures like Linearbandkeramic, Lengyel, and Vinča created statues of humans (rarely men) and animals, which can be considered art. They also decorated pottery in styles such as Želiesovce and painted Lengyel.

Megalithic (large stone) monuments from the Neolithic period are found in many places, including Malta, Portugal, France, southern England, Wales, Ireland, northern Germany, Poland, and Egypt’s Sahara desert (at Nabta Playa). The best-preserved and oldest free-standing structures are the Megalithic Temples of Malta, starting in the 5th millennium BCE. Stonehenge, part of a World Heritage Site in England, is one of the most famous prehistoric sites. Other monuments are found in places like Carnac, France.

The large tomb at Newgrange, Ireland, built around 3200 BCE, has a stone with spiral carvings at its entrance. Nearby, the Knowth mound has flat stones with engravings that may show the local valley or the oldest known image of the Moon. Many of these monuments were tombs, and archaeologists believe they had religious importance. Knowth is said to contain about one-third of all megalithic art in Western Europe.

In the central Alps, the Camunni people created about 350,000 petroglyphs, such as those found in Valcamonica.

The Bronze Age began in Europe around the 3rd millennium BCE, introducing bronze as a new material for art. Better tools increased productivity, leading to a surplus and the rise of artisans. Wealthier societies created luxury items, like decorated weapons. Examples include ceremonial bronze helmets, ornamental axes and swords, musical instruments like lurers, and objects with no practical use, such as the oversized Oxborough Dirk. Gold items, like lunulas in Ireland, the Mold Cape, and golden hats, have survived in greater numbers than Iron Age objects. Pottery from Central Europe was often shaped and decorated elaborately. Rock art showing religious rituals has been found in places like Bohuslän, Sweden, and Valcamonica, Italy.

In the Mediterranean, the Minoan civilization had advanced palace complexes with frescoes. At the same time, Ancient Egyptian and other Near Eastern art was no longer considered prehistoric.

The Iron Age saw the creation of sculptures of people, such as the warrior of Hirschlanden and a statue from Glauberg, Germany. Early Iron Age artists, like those from Hallstatt, used geometric and abstract designs, possibly influenced by trade with the Classical world.

The La Tène style, known for its curvilinear and elaborate designs, developed in the later Iron Age from the Rhine valley and spread across Europe. Wealthy chieftains promoted showy art, including bronze drinking vessels, which reflected a growing interest in wine. Celtic society valued communal eating and drinking, with art often appearing on plates, knives, cauldrons, and cups. Horse gear and weapons were also decorated. Common themes included mythical animals, religious symbols, and natural scenes, blending realism with stylized designs. Megalithic art continued in some places, like the carved pillars at Entremont in France. Personal items like torc necklaces were worn, and coins, inspired by Greek and Roman designs, became a new form of artistic expression.

The Waldalgesheim chariot burial from the late 4th century BCE in the Rhineland included many examples of La Tène art, such as a bronze flagon and plaques with raised human figures. These pieces had curvy, organic shapes, possibly inspired

Africa

Ancient Egypt is not discussed in this article. It had a close relationship with Sudan, which was known as Nubia during this time. Nubia had advanced cultures as early as the 4th millennium BCE, such as the "A-Group," "C-Group," and the Kingdom of Kush.

In September 2018, scientists from the University of Bergen, the University of Bordeaux, and the University of the Witwatersrand reported the discovery of the earliest known drawing by Homo sapiens at Blombos Cave in South Africa. This drawing is estimated to be 73,000 years old. This is much older than the previously known 43,000-year-old modern human drawings.

There are many rock paintings in the area around Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe. These paintings date back to as early as 6000 BCE and continue until 500 CE.

Significant San rock paintings exist in the Waterberg area above the Palala River and near Drakensberg in South Africa. Some of these paintings are from around 8000 BCE. These images are clear and show many human and animal pictures, especially antelope. Rock painting in this area has a long history, with some art dating to the 19th century. These later paintings include images of horses with riders, which were not present in the area until the 1820s.

Namibia has San rock art near Twyfelfontein in addition to the Apollo 11 Cave complex. This art is thousands of years old and ends with the arrival of pastoral tribes in the region.

Laas Geel is a group of caves and rock shelters in northwestern Somalia. These caves are famous for their rock art and are located near Hargeisa. They contain some of the earliest known cave paintings in the Horn of Africa. Many of these paintings show scenes of people raising animals. The art is estimated to date back between 9,000–8,000 and 3,000 BCE.

In 2008, archaeologists discovered cave paintings in Somalia’s northern Dhambalin region. These paintings may include one of the earliest known images of a hunter riding a horse. The art is in the Ethiopian-Arabian style and is dated to 1000–3000 BCE.

Other ancient art in the Horn of Africa includes stone megaliths and engravings. Some of these are 3,500 years old. In Ethiopia, the town of Dillo has a hilltop covered with stone stelae. This is one of several similar sites in southern Ethiopia from the historic period (10th–14th centuries).

The early art of this region is divided into five periods:

Works from the Bubalus period are found across the Sahara. The best examples, which show realistic carvings of large animals, are in the central highlands. The Round Head Period is known for paintings of strangely shaped human figures and few animals. These artists may have created rock art 2,000 years before animals were tamed. These works are mostly found in Tassili n'Ajjer and the Tadrart Acacus. Some paintings show figures with bows near cattle and groups of people near cattle. Round Head art is found in Tassili, Jebel Uweinat, and Ennedi, suggesting similar cultures among these groups. Other animals shown include hippos, elephants, and bovids. Animals like antelope and mouflon are also present. About 90% of Round Head art shows animals. Toward the end of this period, images of tamed animals, clothing, and headdresses appear. Some tamed animals are cattle from the Bovidae family.

Art from the Pastoral Period focused on scenes of herding, dancing, and hunting mouflon. Unlike the Round Head Period, bows are shown in hunting scenes during this time. Pastoral figures are sometimes found on the same walls as Round Head figures but are placed along the edges. The quality of artwork decreased, and figures became simpler.

The Horse Period began in the eastern Sahara and spread west. This period includes carvings and paintings of horses, chariots, warriors with metal weapons, and wildlife like giraffes. Humans are usually shown in a stylized way. Some chariot art resembles temple carvings from ancient Egypt. Occasionally, art panels include Tifinagh script, which is still used by the Berber and Tuareg people today. However, modern Tuareg people often cannot read these inscriptions. The Camel Period includes carvings and paintings with camels as the main subject. These also show humans with swords and later, guns. The art from this time is less detailed.

The Americas

The oldest known art in the Americas is the Vero Beach bone, possibly a mammoth bone, etched with a drawing of a walking mammoth. This artwork dates back to 11,000 BCE. The oldest known painted object in the Americas is the Cooper Bison Skull, which is between 10,900 and 10,200 BCE.

The ancient Olmec "Bird Vessel" and bowl, both made of ceramic and dating to about 1000 BCE, were created in kilns that reached temperatures above 900 °C. This level of heat was also achieved by the Ancient Egyptian culture.

Much Olmec art is highly simplified and uses symbols that show religious meanings. Some Olmec art, however, is very realistic, showing accurate details of human bodies that may only be matched by the best Maya art from later times. Olmec art includes large statues and small jade carvings. A common theme in Olmec art is the image of a divine jaguar. Many Olmec figurines have been found across their time period.

Lithic age art in South America includes rock paintings from the Monte Alegre culture in the Caverna da Pedra Pintada, dating to 9250–8550 BCE. Guitarrero Cave in Peru contains the earliest known textiles in South America, dating to 8000 BCE.

Peru, including parts of the central Andes stretching from northern Peru to northern Chile, has a long history of human activity, with evidence dating to about 10,000 BCE. Before ceramics appeared in this region around 1850 BCE, cave paintings and beads were found. Some rock paintings in the Toquepala Caves are controversially dated to as early as 9500 BCE. Burial sites in Peru, such as Telarmachay, dating to 8600–7200 BCE, show evidence of ritual burials with red ocher and bead necklaces.

The earliest ceramics in Peru may have been brought from the Valdivia region. Indigenous pottery production likely began in the highlands around 1800 BCE at Kotosh and on the coast at La Florida around 1700 BCE. Older calabash gourds with human faces burned into them were found at Huaca Prieta, a site dating to 2500–2000 BCE. Huaca Prieta also contained early patterned and dyed textiles made from plant fibers.

The Initial Period in Central Andean cultures lasted from about 1800 BCE to 900 BCE. Textiles from this time found at Huaca Prieta are very complex, including images like crabs with claws that look like snakes and double-headed birds. Some images appear to be optical illusions, where the viewer decides which image is more noticeable. Other portable artwork from this time includes decorated mirrors, jewelry made of bone and shell, and clay figures of women. Public buildings, such as those at Kotosh, El Paraíso, and La Galgada, required moving more than 100,000 tons of stone. Kotosh is known for the Temple of the Crossed Hands, which has two reliefs of crossed arms, one pair male and one pair female. Sechín Alto is one of South America’s largest ceremonial sites, with a twelve-story platform and stones carved with military themes. The art and architecture of the highlands helped lay the foundation for the Chavín culture.

The Chavín culture ruled the central Andes during the First Horizon, beginning around 900 BCE. It is usually divided into two stages. The first stage, until about 500 BCE, brought together highland and coastal cultures. Art from this time, including textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and buildings, often showed images like jaguars, snakes, and human-animal hybrids, inspired by the jungles nearby.

The later stage of the Chavín culture is marked by the expansion of the Chavín de Huantar site around 500 BCE, along with changes in style. This expansion included over forty large stone heads, whose positions suggest a transformation from human to supernatural animal faces. Other art from this time includes supernatural imagery. Portable art from this period shows advanced metalworking, such as alloying metals and soldering. Textiles found at sites like Karwa show Chavín influences, and the Cupisnique style of pottery spread across the region.

The Early Intermediate Period lasted from about 200 BCE to 600 CE. As the Chavín culture declined, other cultures, especially on the coast, began to grow. The Paracas culture, centered on the Paracas Peninsula, was active from 600 BCE to 175 BCE. Their early work showed Chavín influence, but they developed a unique style with detailed, colorful work on clay and textiles. A notable find is a mantle that shows both expert and trainee weaving.

The Nazca culture in southern Peru is famous for the large figures drawn on the ground, known as the Nazca lines. They shared some similarities with the Paracas culture but used different techniques and scales. The Nazca painted their ceramics with slip and decorated their textiles. Their ceramics showed a wide range of subjects, from everyday items to mythical figures. The Nazca also made gold jewelry and clay pan pipes similar to those used in Andean music today.

The Nazca lines are accompanied by temple-like structures and open plazas, likely used for rituals. The lines were created by removing the top layer of dark stone from a natural surface, using surveying methods to plan the designs.

In northern Peru, the Moche culture was dominant during this time. Also known as Mochica or Early Chimú, the Moche ruled until about 500 CE. They used conquest to gain access to resources like farmland and water. Moche art is expressive and dynamic, unlike much other Andean art. Discoveries like the royal tombs at Sipán have provided more knowledge about this period.

The Moche absorbed elements from the Chavín culture and smaller nearby cultures, such as the Recuay and Vicús. They made ceramic animal figures, worked with gold, and wove textiles. Their art often showed everyday scenes but with ritual purposes.

Later, the Moche were influenced by the expanding Huari empire. The Cerro Blanco site, including Huaca del Sol, may have been the Moche capital. It was largely destroyed by natural events around

Oceania

From the earliest times, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have created unique art patterns. Many of these artworks are temporary. They are often drawn in sand or on people's bodies to show places, totems, or cultural stories. Early artworks that have survived are mostly rock paintings. Some of these paintings are called X-ray paintings because they show the bones and organs of the animals they picture. Some Aboriginal art uses shapes like circles, squares, and lines to tell stories.

The Gwion Gwion rock art is one of many styles of rock art found in Western Australia. These artworks mostly show human figures drawn with detailed accuracy. They are usually at least 17,000 years old, and some experts believe they may be as old as 70,000 years. The Sydney rock engravings are another important rock art site in Australia.