Prehistoric man facts for kids

Prehistoric man refers to the early humans who lived before written history began. This long period, called prehistory, covers millions of years, from the first human-like creatures to the development of writing systems around 3,500 BC. Studying prehistoric humans helps us understand where we came from and how our ancestors lived, adapted, and developed the skills that led to modern civilization.

What is Prehistory?

Prehistory is the time before people started writing things down. It's like a giant puzzle where scientists, called archaeologists and paleontologists, find clues in the ground. These clues include ancient tools, bones, and cave paintings. By studying these clues, they piece together the story of early humans. This period is often divided into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, based on the materials people used for their tools.

The Stone Age: A Long Journey

The Stone Age is the longest part of prehistory. It's named because early humans primarily used stone to make their tools. This age is split into three main parts:

• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age): This was the earliest and longest period, lasting from about 2.5 million years ago to around 10,000 BC. During this time, humans were hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. They lived in caves or simple shelters and used basic stone tools.
• Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age): This period was a transition, from about 10,000 BC to 8,000 BC. People started making smaller, more refined tools and adapting to different environments as the Ice Age ended.
• Neolithic Age (New Stone Age): This began around 8,000 BC and saw huge changes. Humans started farming, domesticating animals, and building permanent settlements. This was a major step towards modern society.

Human Evolution: Our Ancient Family Tree

The story of prehistoric man is the story of human evolution. It describes how our species, Homo sapiens, developed over millions of years from earlier ape-like ancestors.

Early Ancestors: Australopithecus

One of the earliest groups of human ancestors was Australopithecus. They lived in Africa about 4 million years ago. These creatures could walk upright on two legs, which was a very important step in human evolution. Walking upright freed their hands to carry things and use tools.

The Homo Genus: Becoming Human

The first true humans belonged to the genus Homo. This group includes several species that gradually became more like us.

• Homo habilis (Handy Man): Living about 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago, Homo habilis was one of the first to make simple stone tools. They used these tools to cut meat and crack bones.
• Homo erectus (Upright Man): This species lived from about 1.9 million years ago to 140,000 years ago. Homo erectus was taller and had a larger brain than Homo habilis. They were the first humans to leave Africa and spread into Asia and Europe. They also learned to control fire, which was a huge advantage for warmth, cooking, and protection.
• Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals): Living in Europe and parts of Asia from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals were strong and adapted to cold climates. They made more advanced tools, hunted large animals, and even buried their dead, suggesting they had complex thoughts.
• Homo sapiens (Wise Man): This is our own species, modern humans. We first appeared in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Homo sapiens developed complex language, created amazing art (like cave paintings), and invented sophisticated tools and technologies. We eventually spread across the entire world.

Life in Prehistoric Times

Life for prehistoric humans was challenging but also full of innovation.

Tools and Technology

Early humans used tools for everything: hunting, gathering, preparing food, and making shelters. Over time, these tools became more specialized and effective.

• Stone Tools: From simple choppers to sharp blades and spear points, stone tools were essential.
• Fire: Controlling fire allowed humans to cook food (making it easier to digest), stay warm, scare away predators, and extend their active hours into the night.
• Shelter: Early humans lived in caves, rock shelters, or built temporary huts from branches and animal skins.
• Clothing: As they moved into colder regions, humans learned to make clothing from animal hides to protect themselves from the elements.

Art and Culture

Prehistoric humans expressed themselves through art. The most famous examples are the incredible cave paintings found in places like Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain. These paintings, often of animals, show their hunting life and beliefs. They also made small sculptures and decorated tools.

Important Discoveries

Archaeologists continue to find amazing evidence of prehistoric life.

• Lucy: The famous Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, discovered in Ethiopia, provided crucial evidence for early upright walking.
• Turkana Boy: A nearly complete skeleton of a Homo erectus boy found in Kenya, which gave scientists a lot of information about this species.
• Lascaux Caves: Home to some of the most famous and well-preserved cave paintings, showing the artistic skills of early Homo sapiens.

See also

• Caveman
• Human evolution
• Paleolithic
• Prehistory