artifact

(noun)

An object, such as a tool, weapon or ornament, of archaeological or historical interest, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation.

Examples of artifact in the following topics:

  • Paleolithic Artifacts

    • The Paleolithic era has a number of artifacts that range from stone, bone, and wood tools to stone sculptures.
    • Surviving artifacts of the Paleolithic era are known as paleoliths.
    • There has been much dispute among scholars over the terming of early prehistoric artifacts as "art."
    • The Venus of Tan-Tan is an alleged artifact found in Morocco that is believed by some to be the earliest representation of the human form .
    • The Venus of Tan-Tan is an alleged artifact found in Morocco that is believed by some to be the earliest representation of the human form.

  • Ceramics and Bronze in the Yayoi Period

    • Artifacts brought to the Japanese islands by the Yayoi bore Chinese and Korean influences and ushered Japan into the Iron Age.
    • Artifacts brought to the islands at this time had a powerful effect upon the development of Japanese art by presenting objects to imitate and copy, such as bronze mirrors and swords in the Chinese and Korean styles.

  • Sculpture of the Igbo-Ukwu

    • The Nigerian town of Igbo-Ukwu is notable for archaeological sites where highly sophisticated bronze artifacts were discovered.
    • It is notable for three archaeological sites, where excavations have found bronze artifacts from a highly sophisticated bronze metal-working culture dating perhaps to the 9th or 10th century.
    • Other artifacts discovered in the sites include jewelry, ceramics, a corpse adorned in what appears to be regalia, and many assorted copper and iron objects.
    • Besides the bronze artifacts discovered in the 20th century, Igbo art is generally known for various types of masquerade masks and outfits symbolizing people, animals or abstract images.

  • Featherwork of the Aztecs

    • Featherwork, or the working of feathers into clothing and artifacts, was an especially elaborate practice among the Aztecs.
    • Featherwork is the working of feathers into a cultural artifact, which was an especially elaborate art form among the Aztecs.
    • Identify the ways in which feathers were encorporated into Aztec artifacts.

  • Rituals

    • While not all artifacts and art objects have rituals or socially constructed beliefs associated with their continued existence, it is a relevant issue for many cultural and religious groups.
    • Non-preservation refers to the opposite of preservation, either to the physical decay, or more often, the alteration of an object or artifact's intended meaning and/or purpose.
    • Many times, the very effort to preserve an artifact compromises its socially constructed meaning; in this way, the act of preservation becomes, in fact, an act of non-preservation.
    • When removed from their ritual setting, or rightful environment, significant objects or artifacts lose their imbued symbolic and magical values, and take on very different meanings.
    • The 19th century saw the widespread loss cultural artifacts of many cultures around the world.

  • Artifacts of Assyria

    • Assyrian artifacts consist of a variety of media and range in size from hand-held to monumental.
    • Artifacts produced during the Assyrian Empire range from hand-held to monumental and consist of a variety of media from clay to bronze to a diversity of stone.

  • Benin

    • The Benin Empire (1440-1897) developed an advanced artistic culture, especially known for its famous artifacts of bronze, iron, and ivory.
    • It developed an advanced artistic culture, especially known for its famous artifacts of bronze, iron, and ivory.
    • The artwork from this period includes a range of religious objects, ceremonial weapons, masks, animal heads, figurines, busts, plaques, and other artifacts.
    • One of the most common artifacts today is the ivory mask based on Queen Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie who ruled from 1504-1550.

  • Indus Valley Civilization

    • Many artistic artifacts such as ceramics, sculptures, seals, and jewelry have been excavated from this time—more, in fact, than from some civilizations which began centuries after its decline.
    • The Indus Valley period is well documented through the wealth of artifacts which have been excavated from its magnificent cities.
    • Similarities in the iconography and construction of excavated artifacts suggest the considerable mobility and trade networks of the Indus Valley inhabitants.
    • The iconography of the artifacts from the Indus Valley region often depict quite anatomically correct animals and human figures.
    • The evidence for planned settlements and the uniformity of Harappan artifacts suggests a strong organizational or governing force in the Indus Valley Civilization, though archaeological records provide no immediate answers.

  • Jade in Neolithic China

    • The culture was highly stratified, as jade, silk, ivory, and lacquer artifacts were found exclusively in elite burials, while simple pottery was more commonly found in the burial plots of poorer individuals.
    • The most exemplary artifacts from the culture were its cong (cylinders, the largest of which weighs 3.5 kg), bi (discs) and Yue axes (ceremonial axes).
    • Many Liangzhu jade artifacts had a white, milky, bone-like aspect due to their tremolite rock origin and the influence of water-based fluids at burial sites, although jade made from actinolite and serpentine were also commonly found.

  • Moche

    • Moche pottery, found in most North Coast dig sites located in Peru, was varied in artistic forms and were important cultural artifacts.