Directory of Prehistory Resources

Home > Science > Social Sciences > Archaeology > Periods and Cultures > Prehistory

The term "prehistory" is used to refer to those groups of people across time who did not rely on written documents to record information about their society. Instead, these peoples often used other tools like oral tradition or pneumonic devices to forge a collective memory. Prehistory does not occur in one particular time or place. In parts of the Near East, one must go back deep into the B.C. period to talk about prehistory, while in others like the Northeastern U.S. prehistory continues until the 16th century with the coming of Europeans. Prehistory is not only used to talk about the lives of fully modern humans but is also applied to early hominids like Homo erectus and Neandertal who have been shown to engage in cultural expression (e.g. build shelters, use fire, tool making, ritual, etc.)

Subcategories

• Mesolithic
• Neolithic
• Paleolithic
• Prehistoric Art
• Rock Art
• Stone Tools

Resources in This Category

• Ecological Role of Prehistoric Humans

  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline4.htm
  An overview of how populations altered ecosystems and extinguished species prior to developing advanced technology.

• Edge 3rd Culture

  http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/diamond/diamond_p1.html
  A talk by Jared Diamond, Ph.D. from UCLA that addresses the question of why human history unfolded differently on different continents for the last 13,000 years.

• Human Prehistory: An Exhibition

  http://users.hol.gr/~dilos/prehis.htm
  Offers an overview of human evolution and prehistory with a particular emphasis on early human developments in the Old World. The graphically enhanced tours open with a discussion of the origins of the study of "hominid evolution".

• Prehistoric Man by History Link 101

  http://www.historylink101.com/prehistory.htm
  Offers links categorized in five areas: art, daily life, maps, pictures, and research on early man.

• Reflections on Prehistory

  http://www.jqjacobs.net/anthro/prehisty.html
  Offers an overview of prehistory ranging from topics on early hominids to regional discussions of prehistory in the Near East and the American Southwest.

• The Prehistoric Society

  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prehistoric/
  Concerned with prehistory world-wide, its membership is drawn from many countries. Newsletters online, lectures, events, grants, merchandise.

Related Categories

• Home > Science > Earth Sciences > Paleontology
• Home > Society > History > By Time Period > Ancient

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