Your friend Kiara says that she is certain that the first piece of art ever created was a sculpture. You disagree. What would you tell Kiara to best support your argument?

(1 point)
Responses

Time, natural elements, and other forces have erased most of the early art from the Earth, so we may not ever know for certain what was the first piece of art ever created.

Time, natural elements, and other forces have erased most of the early art from the Earth, so we may not ever know for certain what was the first piece of art ever created.

Prehistoric art was produced before writing, so no one created written records of the first pieces ever created.

Prehistoric art was produced before writing, so no one created written records of the first pieces ever created.

Scientists have already determined that cave paintings are the oldest pieces of art ever created, so it cannot be a sculpture.

Scientists have already determined that cave paintings are the oldest pieces of art ever created, so it cannot be a sculpture.

Sculptures were not created until the late 18th century once the technology was available

11 answers

You could tell Kiara: "Time, natural elements, and other forces have erased most of the early art from the Earth, so we may not ever know for certain what was the first piece of art ever created." This response acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the origins of art and highlights that both sculptures and other forms of art, like cave paintings, could have existed millions of years ago without definitive evidence of which came first.

While giving a presentation on Neolithic life, your classmate Anthony talks about the Neolithic clay pots. He lists off several facts about these pots. Which one of these “facts” appears to be CORRECT?

(1 point)
Responses

By firing the clay pots at a low temperature, Neolithic people were able to create water-tight vessels, which could be used to carry water.

By firing the clay pots at a low temperature, Neolithic people were able to create water-tight vessels, which could be used to carry water.

The clay pots were used for cooking, storing food, and transporting food.

The clay pots were used for cooking, storing food, and transporting food.

These water-tight pots offered a solution, enabling people to use them for restrooms since they lacked indoor plumbing.

These water-tight pots offered a solution, enabling people to use them for restrooms since they lacked indoor plumbing.

The creators did not add any decoration and pattern to these pots, since these decorations have no practical use for the pots or the people.

The correct fact about Neolithic clay pots is: "The clay pots were used for cooking, storing food, and transporting food." Neolithic pottery was instrumental in daily life, serving multiple practical purposes.

Your classmates are debating what types of art are the oldest known to us. Everyone has a different idea of what old pieces of art have been discovered. You offer to help solve your classmates’ debate. What would you tell them are the oldest pieces of art that are known to us?

(1 point)
Responses

clay pots

clay pots

sculptures

sculptures

cave paintings

cave paintings

carvings

You could tell your classmates that the oldest pieces of art known to us are cave paintings. These prehistoric artworks, found in locations like Chauvet Cave in France and Altamira Cave in Spain, date back around 30,000 to 40,000 years, making them some of the earliest forms of human artistic expression.

Cave artists took advantage of the rough stone surfaces of the cave. In some caves, such as the Chauvet Cave in France, artists used the bumps in the stone to emphasize parts of the animal. In the Chauvet Cave, an artist painted a bear’s paw over a knob or bulge in the stone, which makes the paw stand out and look fiercer. Reflect on the elements of art. What element was this cave artist demonstrating?

(1 point)
Responses

texture

texture

perspective

perspective

value

value

color

The cave artist in Chauvet Cave was demonstrating texture. By utilizing the bumps in the stone to enhance the painted bear's paw, the artist created a three-dimensional effect that emphasized the texture of the paw, making it stand out and appear more lifelike.

Compare the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic period. What is one thing that makes these time periods different from one another?

(1 point)
Responses

The beginnings of architecture as we know it were present in the Paleolithic period but not in the Neolithic period.

The beginnings of architecture as we know it were present in the Paleolithic period but not in the Neolithic period.

Clay pots were important during the Neolithic period; they weren’t in the Paleolithic period.

Clay pots were important during the Neolithic period; they weren’t in the Paleolithic period.

The Neolithic period is credited with creating indoor plumbing; the Paleolithic period did not have this feature.

The Neolithic period is credited with creating indoor plumbing; the Paleolithic period did not have this feature.

The Paleolithic period involved decorated pots and home decorations; the Neolithic period did not.

One key difference between the Paleolithic period and the Neolithic period is that clay pots were important during the Neolithic period; they weren’t in the Paleolithic period. The Neolithic period saw the advent of pottery, which played a significant role in storing and cooking food, while Paleolithic societies primarily used stone tools and did not produce pottery.

Compare cave paintings to finger flutings. What is one thing that makes these two artforms different?

(1 point)
Responses

Most cave paintings are lines, rather than the outline of any object or animal.

Most cave paintings are lines, rather than the outline of any object or animal.

Cave paintings can only be created on hard stones.

Cave paintings can only be created on hard stones.

Finger flutings are usually in the shape of an animal.

Finger flutings are usually in the shape of an animal.

Finger flutings can only be created on soft stones.

One key difference between cave paintings and finger flutings is that finger flutings can only be created on soft stones. Finger flutings involve the act of creating grooves or markings in soft stone surfaces using one's fingers, while cave paintings are typically made on hard stone surfaces using pigments to depict images of animals and symbols.