NCERT Class 11 Fine Art An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I: Chapter 1 — PREHISTORIC ROCK
This chapter introduces the concept of prehistory, the period before written records, and how scholars reconstruct knowledge about early human life through excavations and cave drawings. It highlights painting and drawing as the oldest art forms, used by prehistoric people to express themselves on cave walls. The chapter discusses the potential reasons behind these paintings, such as beautifying shelters or maintaining visual records of daily life. It focuses on the Upper Palaeolithic Age as a period of significant artistic activity, with cave walls adorned with paintings of animals, human figures, and geometric designs. The earliest paintings in India are reported from this era, marking a crucial stage in the development of human expression and art.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 11 |
| Subject | Fine Art |
| Book | An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — PREHISTORIC ROCK |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 304 |
Learning outcomes
- Define prehistory and understand its significance.
- Recognize painting and drawing as ancient art forms.
- Identify the Upper Palaeolithic Age as a period of artistic proliferation.
- Understand the potential purposes of prehistoric rock paintings.
- Learn about the earliest rock paintings found in India.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Prehistory | The period of human history before written records. |
| Palaeolithic Age | The Old Stone Age, a prehistoric period characterized by the development of stone tools. |
| Excavation | The process of digging up artifacts and remains from the ground to study past civilizations. |
| Surmise | To suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it. |
| Proliferation | A rapid increase in numbers; a large number of something. |
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Practice questions
- What is prehistory? Answer: Prehistory is the distant past when there was no language or written word, and hence no books or written documents.
- What are considered the oldest art forms practiced by human beings? Answer: Painting and drawing are considered the oldest art forms practiced by human beings.
- Which period is commonly known as the Old Stone Age? Answer: The Palaeolithic Age is commonly known as the Old Stone Age.
- What subjects were commonly depicted in Upper Palaeolithic cave paintings? Answer: The subjects of their drawings were human figures, human activities, geometric designs, and animal symbols.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What is the primary method used by scholars to understand prehistoric times?
Explanation: Scholars reconstruct knowledge about prehistoric times by piecing together information from excavated objects and drawings found on cave walls.
Q2. The period before written records is known as:
Explanation: The distant past when there was no written word is called prehistory.
Q3. Which age is also known as the Old Stone Age?
Explanation: The prehistoric period in the early development of human beings is commonly known as the Old Stone Age or the Palaeolithic Age.
Q4. When did artistic activities see a proliferation according to the text?
Explanation: By the Upper Palaeolithic times, we see a proliferation of artistic activities, with cave walls filled with finely carved and painted pictures.
Q5. What was used as a canvas by prehistoric people for their paintings?
Explanation: Prehistoric people used the cave walls as their canvas to express themselves through painting and drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What is prehistory?
Prehistory refers to the period of human history before the invention of writing and the creation of written records.
How do we know about life in prehistoric times?
Scholars learn about prehistoric life through excavations that uncover tools, pottery, bones, and drawings on cave walls, which provide clues about how people lived.
Why did prehistoric people create paintings?
The reasons are not fully known, but they may have painted to make their shelters beautiful or to keep a visual record of their daily lives and activities.
What is the Palaeolithic Age also known as?
The Palaeolithic Age is also commonly known as the Old Stone Age.
When did artistic expression become more widespread?
Artistic expression saw a significant increase and proliferation during the Upper Palaeolithic times.
What kind of subjects did prehistoric people paint?
They painted animals, human figures, human activities, geometric designs, and animal symbols.
Where have the earliest paintings in India been reported from?
The earliest paintings in India have been reported from the Upper Palaeolithic times.
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NCERT Class 11 Fine Art — An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I — Chapter 1 — PREHISTORIC ROCK. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.