Prehistoric Artifacts
Human societies of the prehistoric era have existed for approximately two million years, but their recorded history truly began with the invention of writing over five thousand years ago. The period preceding this invention is referred to as prehistory, encompassing the people, arts, and artifacts they left behind.
The prehistoric populations laid the groundwork for the emergence of civilizations. During this era, humans relied on hunting and foraging for edible plants for their sustenance. Over time, they progressed to domesticating animals and cultivating various crops. They also invented simple tools that aided in farming and hunting, learned to create fire, and developed early pottery, which gradually led to the establishment of some of the earliest cities.
All of these developments have been indicated through the artifacts discovered from these times, which lack written records due to the absence of writing among these societies. This lack of written documentation has prompted researchers to excavate tools, bones, and remnants of these early humans. Every piece of evidence unearthed is meticulously studied to build an approximate understanding of prehistoric human life through their artifacts.
Artifacts from Prehistoric Societies
The majority of artifacts uncovered from prehistoric societies are tools crafted from stone, which is why this era is often referred to as the Stone Age. Additionally, scientists have been able to estimate the age of humanity on Earth through the discovery of fossilized human remains, some of which were found near Germany in the nineteenth century. At that time, researchers were unable to determine whether these bones belonged to modern or ancient humans due to the lack of advanced tools.
One of the most significant findings is the skeletal remains of “Lucy,” a specimen discovered among fossils. This skeleton is from a human ancestor who lived approximately three million years ago, which predates the emergence of modern humans by about one million years. Studies indicate that the first humans likely appeared around two million years ago.
In addition to skeletal findings, cave walls featuring engravings and paintings provide insights into the lifestyles of prehistoric humans, illustrating the tools they used in their daily lives. These artistic expressions have sparked a keen interest in discovering further artifacts from this historical period. Although many significant discoveries have been made, they are not sufficient to answer all the questions regarding the intricacies of life during this time, leaving many aspects still unresolved, pending further archaeological findings.