Before writing, humans still left traces. Prehistory refers to the span of human existence prior to the appearance of written records in a given region. It is studied primarily through archaeology, paleontology, and related sciences.

The invention of writing occurred at different times in different places, so prehistory ends earlier in Mesopotamia than in parts of the Americas or Oceania. Stone tools, cave paintings, settlements, and human remains provide the evidence. Chronologies rely on stratigraphy, radiometric dating, and typological sequences.

Prehistoric research has revealed the deep antiquity of humanity, the development of agriculture, and the peopling of the continents. It challenges any sharp divide between “history” and what came before by showing complex social and technological achievements long before texts. The field continues to expand with new finds and analytical techniques.

• Human past before written records
• Studied mainly through archaeology
• Ends at different times in different regions
• Reveals deep human technological and social development