Global Prehistory (30,000–500 BCE)
This Paleolithic painting in France shows running bulls, horses, and bison—possibly used in rituals for successful hunts.
What is the Great Hall of the Bulls (Lascaux Caves)?
The Chavín de Huántar temple in Peru features the Lanzón Stele. What animal is prominently represented in the carving?
What is a jaguar?
The Conical Tower and Circular Wall of Great Zimbabwe symbolized royal power. What material was it built from?
What is coursed granite blocks (stone masonry)?
The massive Moai on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) represent these beings
What are deified ancestors or chiefs?
The Apollo 11 Stones from Namibia are among the oldest known artworks. What material and technique were used to make them?
What is charcoal on stone?
The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings in Colorado were home to which Indigenous group of the American Southwest?
Who are the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi)?
The Ndop portrait figure of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul* was made by the Kuba people. What did the figure represent?
What is the king’s spirit or idealized presence (royal identity)?
The ‘Ahu ‘ula (feather cape) from Hawaii was worn by these individuals
Who are Hawaiian chiefs or nobility?
The Bushel with Ibex Motifs from Susa, Iran, features stylized animals arranged in registers. What Neolithic purpose did this vessel likely serve?
What is a funerary or ritual offering vessel?
The Yaxchilán Lintel 25 shows Lady Xoc pulling a thorned rope through her tongue. What is the purpose of this ritual?
What is a bloodletting ritual to communicate with ancestors or deities?
The Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali is made from what distinctive material that must be replastered annually?
What is adobe (mud brick)?
The Nan Madol site in Micronesia served what political or ceremonial function?
What is a ceremonial and administrative center for the Saudeleur dynasty?
The Jade Cong from Liangzhu, China, combines circular and square forms. What spiritual concept do these shapes symbolize?
What is heaven (circle) and earth (square)?
The Great Serpent Mound in Ohio is aligned with solstice cycles. Which prehistoric North American culture built it?
Who are the Mississippian or Adena peoples?
The Golden Stool (Sika Dwa Kofi) of the Asante people was believed to house what sacred element?
What is the soul of the Asante nation?
Buk (mask) from the Torres Strait combines turtle shell, feathers, and raffia. What was its use?
What is in ceremonial performances (funerary or initiation)?
This Neolithic monument in England aligns with the solstices and may have served both ceremonial and astronomical functions.
What is Stonehenge?
The Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlán was dedicated to two deities. Name one of them.
Who are Huitzilopochtli (war/sun) or Tlaloc (rain/agriculture)?
The Wall Plaques from Oba’s Palace (Benin) were created using which complex casting method?
What is the lost-wax casting technique (bronze casting)?
The Tamati Waka Nene portrait by Gottfried Lindauer blends Māori and European styles. The medium is
What is oil on canvas?