Prehistory Overview and Key Concepts

Prehistory Overview

• Divided into three main epochs: Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age.
• Timeline spans from 2,500,000 years ago to 1,200 BCE.
• B.C.E (Before Common Era) and C.E (Common Era) provide secular alternatives to traditional dating methods.

Stone Age Subdivisions

• Paleolithic: Also known as the Old Stone Age, marked by nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles.
• Mesolithic: The Middle Stone Age, characterized by transitional cultures and emerging technologies.
• Neolithic: The New Stone Age, notable for the advent of agriculture, fixed settlements, and the rise of civilizations.

Cave Art

• Cave paintings found in locations like Lascaux (France) illustrate important animal symbols, human figures, and abstract signs.
• Used natural earth tones derived from materials such as manganese, charcoal, iron oxides, and clay.
• Reflects the relationship between prehistoric humans and their environment.

Stonehenge

• Constructed between 2600-1400 BCE, known for its circle of megaliths.
• Terms:
  • Henge: circular earthwork.
  • Megaliths: large stones used in the construction.
  • Menhir: standing stones often found in alignment with celestial events.
• Functioned as a site for rituals and pilgrimages; significant astronomical correlations noted.

Structure and Construction Techniques

• Employed the post and lintel architectural technique, also seen in ancient Roman buildings.
• The process of erecting the stones at Stonehenge is estimated to have taken around 50 years.

Early Settlements

• One of the first known settlements is Skara Brae, showcasing early urban design.
• Features narrow alleys and partitions, indicating advanced societal organization.
• Structures mainly built from stone; included embedded furniture, indicating fixed furnishings within homes.