Earth’s beginnings can be traced back 4.5 billion years, but human evolution only counts for a tiny speck of its history. The Prehistoric Period—or when there was human life before records documented human activity—roughly dates from 2.5 million years ago to 1,200 B.C. It is generally categorized in three archaeological periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
From the invention of tools made for hunting to advances in food production and agriculture to early examples of art and religion, this enormous time span—ending roughly 3,200 years ago (dates vary upon region)—was a period of great transformation. Here’s a closer look:
Divided into three periods: Paleolithic (or Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (or Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (or New Stone Age), this era is marked by the use of tools by our early human ancestors (who evolved around 300,000 B.C.) and the eventual transformation from a culture of hunting and gathering to farming and food production. During this era, early humans shared the planet with a number of now-extinct hominin relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans.
In the Paleolithic period (roughly 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 B.C.), early humans lived in caves or simple huts or tepees and were hunters and gatherers. They used basic stone and bone tools, as well as crude stone axes, for hunting birds and wild animals. They cooked their prey, including woolly mammoths, deer and bison, using controlled fire. They also fished and collected berries, fruit and nuts.
Ancient humans in the Paleolithic period were also the first to leave behind art. They used combinations of minerals, ochres, burnt bone meal and charcoal mixed into water, blood, animal fats and tree saps to etch humans, animals and signs. They also carved small figurines from stones, clay, bones and antlers.
The end of this period marked the end of the last Ice Age, which resulted in the extinction of many large mammals and rising sea levels and climate change that eventually caused man to migrate.
Mesolithic Period
The Shell Mound People, or Kitchen-Middeners, were hunter-gatherers of the late Mesolithic and early Neolithic period. They get their name from the distinctive mounds (middens) of shells and other kitchen debris they left behind.
4 views
365
75
7 months ago 00:23:40 1
ROLLING THUNDER (Namco - Arcade - 1986)
7 months ago 00:12:06 1
How is IFTAR held during Ramadan in Russia
7 months ago 00:29:26 1
DIY Dream Workshop Garage - Transforming an old room into a Man Cave with using Parkside Tools
7 months ago 01:08:55 1
Россия: почему люди хотят назад в СССР | Ностальгия по Союзу, дешевая колбаса и политика Путина
7 months ago 00:01:16 1
What ’Despacito’ sounds like when you don’t know Spanish
7 months ago 00:05:03 7
Dero Goi - Resurrected [Official Music Video]
7 months ago 00:04:20 1
King Arthur Official Soundtrack | The Devil and The Huntsman - Daniel Pemberton | WaterTower
7 months ago 00:12:38 1
The life of an elderly grandmother in a village far from civilization. Life in Russia in spring.
7 months ago 00:19:33 1
Ancient Lights - Spite Wall EP
7 months ago 00:30:06 1
Lonely life of 92 year old grandmother at the edge of the world is far from civilization
7 months ago 01:07:58 1
Человек в пещере. [Internet Historian RUS VO]
7 months ago 01:04:21 1
“Caveman’s Love: Grandmother’s Compassion for Orphan Girls/Trying for Security“
7 months ago 00:04:09 1
Kylie Minogue & Nick Cave - Where The Wild Roses Grow
7 months ago 00:08:26 1
Metallica - Master of Puppets [Cover by RichaadEB & Little V]
7 months ago 01:06:10 9
The Complete History of Archery With Ray Mears
7 months ago 00:14:07 1
CONAN - DIY Series, Issue 1 10“ [FULL ALBUM] 2024
7 months ago 01:07:44 1
Bakery cave: baking local bread with fire by grandmother with the support of the cameraman
7 months ago 00:28:12 1
“ SUN AND DUST ” 1957 MEXICO TRAVELOGUE LAREDO, TEXAS TO PUEBLA, GUADALJARA, MONTERREY XD82865
7 months ago 01:02:27 1
Happy old age of an elderly couple in a mountain village in winter far from civilization
7 months ago 00:48:32 1
YYV5C2 Observations Understanding Broad and Open Way Authoritarian Manipulation…
7 months ago 00:17:51 1
देवसेना को पाने के लिç
7 months ago 00:00:23 1
A Certified, Cave Leech moment - Deep Rock Galactic
7 months ago 01:00:05 1
SNEAKING INTO POSSESSED HATIAN VOODOO MANS CAVE (TERRIFYING)
7 months ago 00:18:48 1
SpaceX Is Insane - Starship Flight 4 Test Campaign! Differnet Approach!