Global Prehistory Vocabulary

having characteristics of the human form, although the form itself is not human

small-scale prehistoric art that is moveable

something relating to birds

two-headed figures

the Bovidae are the biological family of mammals that includes bison, African buffalo, water buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, sheep, goats, muskoxen, and domestic cattle

a tubular object with a circular hole cut into a square-like cross section

a member of the Camelidae family, such as camels, llamas, and alpacas

something that has a tooth-like or serrated edge

materials that originated elsewhere

a Neolithic monument, characterised by a circular ground plan.

used for rituals and marking astronomical events

a primate of family that includes humans and their fossil ancestors

a horizontal beam over an opening

also known as corn; first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in modern-day Mexico c. 10,000 years ago

a stone of great size used in the construction of a prehistoric structure

a large uncut stone erected as a monument in the prehistoric era; a standing stone

a groove cut into stone or wood, called a mortise, that is shapes to receive a tenon, or projection, of the same dimensions

a 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

a method of construction in which two posts support a horizontal beam, called a lintel

a rock engraving in which an image has been pecked or cut into the rock

fragments of pottery

the large triangular bone at the base of the spine

a religion in which good and evil are brought about by spirits that can be influenced by shamans, who have access to these spirits

an upright stone slab used to mark a grave or a site

made up of tiny particles of clay suspended in water and can be coloured with iron oxide or other minerals to decorate the surface of a pot

often shand or other added materials, temper reduces the elasticity of clay (how much it shrinks) and helps to avoid cracking during the firing process

a supernatural creature that is part animal and part human

a pair of upright stones with a lintel stone spanning their tops

when animal bodies are depicted in profile while we see the horns from a more frontal viewpoint