What is Prehistory?

Prehistory refers to the past before written records emerged in a particular society. It is studied through archaeological, environmental, and fossil evidence rather than written documents.

How is prehistory studied?

Archaeologists examine stone tools, bones, traces of fire, dwellings, burials, and plant and animal remains together. The layer where an object is found, its relationship to other finds, and the dating method all affect interpretation. Radiocarbon dating can estimate the age of some organic remains, but it is not suitable for every sample. Tools offer clues about technology and adaptation, yet cannot reveal an entire society on their own. Because the archaeological record is incomplete, conclusions are revised as evidence grows.

The Stone Age and the move to settled life

Terms such as Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic are broad classifications used especially in European and West Asian archaeology; their dates vary by region. Some communities remained mobile hunter-gatherers while others developed cultivation, animal domestication, and permanent settlements. Farming emerged over long periods in multiple places, not in one instant or single center. Settled life changed population, labor, and property arrangements, but agriculture did not immediately improve living conditions for everyone.