PREHISTORIC ART: BOTH AESTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL PURPOSES
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Prehistoric art encompasses a wide range of artistic creations from early human cultures
dating back thousands of years, including cave paintings expertly rendered on cavern walls and
ceilings, rock carvings beautifully etched into stone surfaces across vast landscapes, skillfully
crafted sculptures fashioned from bone and ivory, and meticulously designed pottery vessels
formed through technical processes. For a long period of time, the prevailing assumption was
that all such prehistoric artistic works served no practical purpose and were created by
inhabitants of the distant past purely for reasons of aesthetic expression and appreciation, similar
to the conceptualization of fine art produced in contemporary society. However, more recent
interdisciplinary research and in-depth analytical examination of accumulating archaeological
evidence now indicate that prehistoric art forms very likely fulfilled important functional roles
within their cultural settings as well. This paper will examine how prehistoric art in various
forms served both aesthetic and functional purposes through cultural practices like recording
history, influencing hunting success, and facilitating food storage and transportation.
Cave Art as History and Ritual
Some of the earliest and most elaborate prehistoric art can be found on the walls and
ceilings of cave systems across Europe and elsewhere. Cave paintings dating back tens of
thousands of years depict a variety of animals, humans, and abstract symbols. According to
Kiely, cave art may have functioned “as a kind of record of the mythologies and histories of
tribes, their rituals, and their beliefs before writing could serve that purpose.” The figural
imagery could represent narratives, while abstract symbols may have indicated symbolic records
(Kiely, 2023). In addition, the presence of animal art in caves has often been interpreted as an
attempt to influence hunting success or increase herd fertility through rituals (Kiely, 2023). By
depicting important prey species, early humans may have been exerting a form of power over the
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animals and influencing hunting outcomes. Cave art locations also suggest they played a role in
rituals conducted deep within sacred underground spaces. So, while aesthetically pleasing, cave
paintings served important cultural functions of recording oral histories and participating in
rituals central to survival. Additionally, the mystery of cave art's purpose should continue to be
of interest to historians studying early humanity.
Rock Art as Ritual and Identity
Petroglyphs and pictographs carved or painted on exposed rock faces also aided
important cultural practices for prehistoric peoples. At sites like the Lohraff Petroglyphs in
Missouri, the presence of both earth-related and sky-related motifs suggests they functioned in
part to represent the cosmological beliefs of surrounding Native groups like the Osage, in which
the earth and sky formed the basis of social and political organization (Diaz-Granados et al.,
2004). Additionally, rock art sites "functioned as places of prayer and for the telling of stories
(origin beliefs, creation legends, naming rituals, and vision quests)" (Duncan et al. 2010). Marks
believed to indicate places of entering or leaving the underworld are also featured at some sites.
So, while aesthetically decorative, rock art served as places for oral traditions, rituals, vision
quests, and cosmological practices central to cultural practices and group identities (Duncan et
al., 2010). Rock art provides valuable insights into indigenous cosmological systems.
Pottery for Food Storage and Preparation
Perhaps one of the most pragmatically functional forms of prehistoric art was ceramic
pottery. Analysis of pottery vessels reveals they played an important economic role in food
storage, preparation, and transportation for many early agricultural societies. Plant residue
analysis of potsherds from Inner Mongolia, China, dating back 8,000 years, indicated vessels
were used to process wild plant foods and curate resources during the hunting-gathering-foraging
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stage (Guan et al., 2004). Larger lithic toolkits found with early pottery may also suggest pottery-
facilitated resource curation. Additionally, the style and forms of pottery vessels often indicate
how they were used - Decorated jars, bowls, and flattened vessels were suited to various food
processing, storage, and transport roles depending on form (Woodward and Hill, 2002). The
integration of alien vessel styles and decoration into a group's material culture also provides
insight into social relationships and cultural change processes involving pottery (Woodward and
Hill). Therefore, pottery served not just aesthetic purposes but pivotal functional roles in
subsistence strategies and cultural interactions. Pottery technology was crucial for enabling
survival.
Contemporary Perspectives
While the meaning and functions of prehistoric artworks were long debated, current
multidisciplinary perspectives shed more light on their role in cultural practices beyond mere
aesthetics. Archaeological science now reveals how pottery aided practical needs like cooking
and food storage through residues and forms. Contextual analysis situates rock art in rituals and
oral traditions. Ethnographic analogies help interpret symbolic themes in cave art. Overall,
prehistoric art served both aesthetic expression and functional purposes through diverse media.
Cave paintings aided storytelling, history keeping, and rituals. Rock art marked sacred places for
ceremonies and beliefs. Pottery facilitated resource processing, storage, and transport, which are
vital to survival. Aesthetic designs and forms were thus intertwined with important cultural
functions. Prehistoric peoples, like artists today, created works of both visual pleasure and
practical use central to cultural continuity. Recognizing prehistoric art's dual roles enriches our
understanding of humanity's deep artistic heritage.
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Prehistoric art forms fulfilled vital practical needs within communities while also
representing symbolic systems. Cave paintings integrated spiritual and subsistence realms
through depictions imbued with ritual meaning. Rock carvings illustrated the cosmological
worldviews defining social organization. Ceramic production advanced food preservation
logistics crucial for subsistence. Across diverse artistic creations, symbolic communication
connected cultural practices to environments. Through conveying group narratives, histories, and
beliefs spatially and temporally, prehistoric art served as a medium for transmitting cultural
knowledge between generations. Appreciating art's pragmatic societal functions illuminates early
humanity's sophisticated capacity for creative expression in service of community continuity.
The evidence demonstrates that prehistoric artistic creations served dual purposes of
aesthetics and important cultural functions through varied media across time and space. Cave
paintings recorded oral traditions and influenced vital hunting. Rock art identified sacred sites
and cosmological beliefs. Pottery facilitated resource storage and social interactions essential to
subsistence. While aesthetically expressive, prehistoric artworks participated in key practices of
history keeping, ritual, food processing, and group identities integral to cultural survival. Current
multidisciplinary research illuminates prehistoric art's roles beyond mere decoration through
residues, locations, symbolic themes, and analogies with known societies. Appreciating
prehistoric art's aesthetic and pragmatic sides more fully recognizes early humans' creative
capacities and cultural richness throughout humanity's deep past. A better understanding of
prehistoric art deepens our knowledge of human cultures before written records.
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