Why are prehistoric works of art designated as such?
(2 points)
Responses
Because they cannot be dated.
Because they cannot be dated.
Because they cannot be attributed to a particular artist.
Because they cannot be attributed to a particular artist.
Because they were painted in a cave.
Because they were painted in a cave.
Because the society that created them did not yet possess written language.
Because the society that created them did not yet possess written language.
Because the society that created them did not yet possess written language.
The correct answer is: because the society that created them did not yet possess written language.
Prehistoric works of art are designated as such because they were created by ancient civilizations that did not have a written language. These civilizations existed before the invention of writing systems, so they left behind no written records or documentation about the artworks they created. Instead, these artworks serve as the primary source of information about their culture, beliefs, and way of life.
To arrive at this answer, we can eliminate the other options:
- "Because they cannot be dated": While it may be challenging to accurately determine the precise age of prehistoric artworks, modern scientific techniques such as carbon dating can help establish their approximate age.
- "Because they cannot be attributed to a particular artist": Prehistoric art is often created by anonymous individuals rather than specific artists. However, the lack of attribution is not the sole reason for designating these artworks as prehistoric.
- "Because they were painted in a cave": While cave paintings are a significant type of prehistoric art, not all prehistoric art was created in caves. There are various forms of prehistoric art, including rock carvings, sculptures, and pottery.
Overall, the defining characteristic that designates works of art as prehistoric is the absence of a written language in the society that produced them.