Prehistory: Uncovering the Past

Most of what we study in history focuses on the last 5,500 years, when people began leaving written records. But this period represents only a small fraction of human history, and an even smaller fraction of Earth’s history. The long time before writing is called prehistory. To understand how prehistoric humans lived, archaeologists study clues such as fossils, stone tools, and ancient campsites. The study of prehistory is constantly changing because new discoveries continue to reshape what we know about our distant past.

Uncovering the Past

Archaeologists are scientists who study human activity through material remains. When no written record exists, they search for clues about how prehistoric people lived and then try to reconstruct the past from artifacts such as tools, pottery, bones, and ancient campsites. As new discoveries are made, our understanding of the distant past often changes.

Our Understanding Evolves

Students today learn many of the same stories about ancient Egypt or Greece that their parents and grandparents learned in school. Prehistory is different. As archaeologists uncover new discoveries and technology improves our ability to study ancient remains, our understanding of the distant past continues to change. Recent advances in DNA research, including the sequencing of Neanderthal genomes around 2010, have revealed surprising connections between ancient humans and people living today. Because new discoveries are still being made, our understanding of prehistory will almost certainly continue to evolve.

Passing Knowledge Forward

Eventually, people learned how to write. Writing allowed people to pass their knowledge onto others. Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.” Sir Isaac believed that his accomplishments were possible because he learned from the people who came before him. Instant worldwide communication is one reason why our society is rapidly changing.