Prehistory

Prehistory is the vast span of human existence that came before the invention of writing, known to us only through physical remains such as bones, tools, settlements and art. Because there are no documents, archaeologists reconstruct this period from material evidence and from the geological and biological context in which it is found. The earliest and longest phase is the Stone Age, named for the durable stone implements that survive from it.

The Stone Age is conventionally divided into the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Early hominids shaped stone into cutting and scraping tools, and toolmaking grew steadily more refined over hundreds of thousands of years. Human evolution unfolded across this time: ancestors such as Homo erectus walked upright and used fire, and were followed by the Neanderthals, who lived across Europe and western Asia and buried their dead, and by anatomically modern humans.

Prehistoric people left striking evidence of symbolic thought. Painted caves preserve images of animals and hunting scenes created with natural pigments deep underground. In the later Neolithic, communities raised large stone monuments, the most famous being the great alignments of standing stones at Carnac in Brittany. The Neolithic also brought farming, settled villages and pottery, changes so far-reaching that they are often called the Neolithic Revolution.

Frequently asked questions

What does prehistory mean?

Prehistory is the period of the human past before written records existed. It is studied through physical remains such as tools, bones, monuments and cave paintings.

What was the Stone Age?

The Stone Age is the earliest prehistoric period, named for stone tools. It is divided into the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic, ending as metalworking began.

Who were the Neanderthals?

Neanderthals were an extinct human species that lived in Europe and western Asia. They made tools, used fire and buried their dead before disappearing roughly 40,000 years ago.