By Natural Philosopher Michael Alan Prestwood

By Natural Philosopher Michael Alan Prestwood

1-Prehistory Age

Prehistory Age (50,000 to 4,000 years ago): After the cognitive age, the prehistory for modern humans starts. The time after the stabilization of our raw cognitive abilities.

New Guinea: Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Agrarian)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Earliest known agrarian society in the Oceana-Australasia zone: Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea provides evidence of early agricultural innovation, including ditched drainage systems for taro cultivation. This represents one of the earliest known instances of agriculture in Oceania, showing complex environmental management by its inhabitants. Imagined image: The Kuk Early Agricultural Site […]

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China: Jiahu Settlement (Agrarian)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Earliest known agrarian society in the Asia zone: Located in Henan, China, Jiahu is one of the earliest sites showing comprehensive signs of early agriculture, including rice cultivation. The community also showed advanced practices like winemaking, music, and possibly writing, indicating a highly developed early agrarian society. Imagined image: This panoramic image presents the Jiahu Settlement

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Mexico: Guilá Naquitz (Agrarian)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Earliest known agrarian society in the Americas zone: In Oaxaca, Mexico, the site of Guilá Naquitz provides evidence of early plant domestication, particularly of squash, around 8000 BCE, with subsequent developments including maize and beans. Imagined Image: An early agrarian society of Oaxaca, Mexico, circa 7900 BCE. It showcases small, temporary shelters, with indigenous people

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Greece: Sesklo Culture (Agrarian)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Earliest known agrarian society in the Europe/Mediterranean zone: The Sesklo culture in Greece is recognized for its early adoption of agriculture, including the cultivation of cereals and legumes, and domestication of animals. This Neolithic culture is noted for its distinctive pottery and advanced housing architecture, reflecting significant societal organization. Imagined image: The Sesklo Culture village around

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Egypt: Nabta Playa (Agrarian)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Earliest known agrarian society in the Africa/Middle East zone: Located in southern Egypt, Nabta Playa is one of the earliest known agrarian societies in the Sahara. This prehistoric community developed a sophisticated system of cattle herding and possibly small-scale cultivation, alongside seasonal water management strategies, making it a precursor to more complex agricultural societies in the

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Lebombo bone: First Lunar Phase Counter

By Michael Alan Prestwood

The Lebombo Bone is one of the oldest known mathematical artifacts in human history. This ancient tool is a baboon fibula with 29 distinct notches carved into it. It was discovered in the Lebombo Mountains between South Africa and Swaziland. It was initially dated to approximately 35,000 years, but 24 radiocarbon tests since date it

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Zoroastrian Universe Creation Date

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Zoroastrian texts like the Bundahishn describe a cosmology with a timeline involving a 12,000-year long struggle between good and evil. In 2024, we are nearly 3,000 years into the ealiest known history of this religion. If the “Time of Humanity” is 3,000 years, then Earth was created about 7000 BCE and we are close to

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3114 BCE: Mayan Earth Creation Date

By Michael Alan Prestwood

The Maya Long Count calendar is often associated with a creation date, which corresponds to August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar. This represents the start of the current cycle of creation according to Mayan mythology.

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3761 BCE, Judaic Earth Creation Date

By Michael Alan Prestwood

231 Generations Ago Estimating the date of Earth’s creation according to Judaic tradition involves delving into the Hebrew Bible and rabbinical interpretations. A significant historical calculation places the creation at 3761 BCE, marking the beginning of the Hebrew calendar. This date is derived from the Seder Olam Rabbah, a 2nd-century CE chronology that counts the

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Yonaguni Monument Terraces midpart NWW

Under Investigation: Yonaguni Monument

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Possible lost city off Japan: Discovered in 1985 off the coast of Yonaguni, Japan, it has captivated archaeologists, geologists, and conspiracy theorists alike. Characterized by its monolithic, terraced structures, this submerged rock formation resembles architectural craftsmanship that some suggest could date back to around 8000 BCE, a time when global sea levels were significantly lower.

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Phenotype Variation: Eye Shape and the Epicanthic Fold

By Michael Alan Prestwood

The feature of the epicanthic fold, particularly prevalent among East Asian populations descended from Haplogroup A, is an adaptation to cold, windy, and bright environments encountered as humans migrated northward from Africa. This phenotype likely developed to protect the eyes from frostbite and snow blindness, showcasing how genetic diversity within human lineages adapted to specific

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Phenotype Variation: Lactose Tollerance

By Michael Alan Prestwood

As dairy farming became prevalent, particularly in Europe and some African communities, natural selection favored individuals who could digest lactose into adulthood. This genetic adaptation, known as lactase persistence, is a direct result of human cultural practices (dairying) and has had significant dietary implications.

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Photo of Woman With Blue Eyes and Black Hair

Phenotype Variation: Blue Eyes

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Blue eyes emerging stands out as a striking example of a genetic mutation that spread across populations. Traced back to a single individual living between 6,000 and 8,000 BCE in the region near the Black Sea. The mutation involved is a specific change in the OCA2 gene, which alters the way melanin is produced in

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wall, decay, plaster

Plaster Invented

By Michael Alan Prestwood

The earliest known use of plaster dates back to around 9000 BCE, with evidence from the ancient site of Çatalhöyük in modern-day Turkey. Here, Neolithic inhabitants utilized plaster made from lime to coat the floors, walls, and even ceilings of their mud-brick houses. This early application of plaster represents a significant technological innovation, indicating a

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Ain Ghazal Statues: Early Plaster Art

By Michael Alan Prestwood

The Ain Ghazal statues, dating back to around 7200 BCE, are among the earliest known examples of human figures crafted from plaster, highlighting an advanced use of materials in the Neolithic period. This technique involved applying plaster, made from lime and powdered limestone, over a core of reeds and twine to create lifelike statues with

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Tell Abu Hureyra

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Located in modern-day Syria, this is an important site because of the evidence demonstrating a likely pattern from hunter-gatherer to farming. It provides evidence of one of the earliest known villages. The leading interpretation is that they were settled in the area and practiced hunting and gathering before about 11,500 BCE. Around 11,500 BCE there

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Göbekli Tepe Culture (11000 BCE to 8000 BCE)

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Located in modern-day Turkey, Göbekli Tepe is one of the world’s oldest known temples. This site features massive carved stones and complex architectural structures that predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The sophistication and scale of Göbekli Tepe suggest that the community was able to coordinate large-scale projects, indicating a high level of social organization

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Glass Gem Flint Corn

Corn

By Michael Alan Prestwood

In the highlands of Mexico, the story of maize, or corn, begins with its ancestor, teosinte. Through centuries of selective breeding, Indigenous peoples transform this humble grass into corn.

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Delicious Cheese board. Assortment of cheese, camembert, brie, Gorgonzola, parmesan, olives

Cheese

By Michael Alan Prestwood

In the Neolithic villages of Poland, milk, a nourishing gift from domesticated animals, is left to curdle, giving rise to the earliest form of cheese.

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Chauvet Cave Paintings

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Located in France, the cave contains hundreds of wall paintings of animals, abstract symbols, and hand prints.

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