Prehistoric
Prehistoric refers to the period of human history before the existence of written records. The term is used mainly in archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology and denotes a temporal designation rather than a specific culture. Its exact boundaries vary by region, because different societies began writing at different times. In many parts of Europe and the Near East, prehistory ends around 3,000 to 1,500 BCE, when writing becomes more common, but in other regions writing arose much later or is absent altogether.
Prehistory is commonly divided into the Stone Age—Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic—and, in places where applicable, the
Evidence for prehistoric life and cultures comes from fossils, stone and bone tools, pottery fragments, plant