Prehistory begins when our current cognitive abilities had largely settled, around 50,000 BCE—a date that will move as science refines our understanding. This period tells the early modern human story before written records. It ends at 4000 BCE, a deliberate marker placed near the midpoint of major creation narratives, separating mythic origin stories from recorded history.
Prehistory: This timeline uses the Holistic Paleolithic Framework, for details, go to Holistic Paleolithic Framework: A New Look at Prehistory.
World History: Prehistory
World Population: 1.5 Million
By 70,000 BCE
Extinction: Homo Erectus
50,000 BCE
Cuban Underwater City: More Research Needed
50,000 BCE
Speculative: 20 to more than 50 thousand years ago.
Extinction: Homo floresiensis
48,000 BCE
58,000 to 48,000 BCE
Lebombo bone: First Lunar Phase Counter
42,200 BCE
44,200 to 43,000 years old according to 24 radiocarbon tests
Sulawesi Cave Art
circa 41,900 BCE
Phenotype Variation: Eye Shape and the Epicanthic Fold
circa 40,000 BCE
Upper Paleolithic Cave Art with Symbols
circa 40,000 BCE
Spain & France
Extinction: Denisovans
40,000
Venus of Hohle Fels
38,000 BCE
38,000 to 33,000 BCE
Bone Flute
38,000 BCE
38,000 to 33,000 BCE
Extinction: Neanderthals
38,000 BCE
Extinction range: 38,000 BCE to 22,000 BCE
Chauvet Cave Paintings
30,000 BCE
Czeck: Dolní Věstonice Community
30,000 BCE
29 to 32 thousand years ago.
Sunghir Burial Site
30,000 BCE
32,000 Years Ago
Advanced Sewing Needles
28,000 BCE
28,000 to 21,000 BCE
Modern Skin Color Variety Emerges
By 25,000 Years Ago (+/- 10,000 years)
Seasonal Settlements at Franchthi Cave
20,000 BCE
From circa 20,000 to 3,000 BCE
Earliest Known Domesticated Animal: Dogs
By 20,000 BCE
Ukraine: Mezhyrich Community
18,000 BCE
15 to 20 Thousand Years Agao
Seasonal Settlements at Monte Verde
circa 14,800 BCE
The Clovis Culture
circa 13000 BCE
The Invention of Bread
Before 14,400 BCE
Middle East
Tell Abu Hureyra
circa 11,500 BCE
Evidence of farming: rye seeds
World Population: 4 Million
10,000 BCE
Estimates range from 2 to 5 million
Neolithic Revolution
9,700 BCE
Start of "our" Holocene geological epoch
Göbekli Tepe Culture (11000 BCE to 8000 BCE)
Start of heyday: circa 9600 BCE
Initial construction circa 11,000 BCE (13,000 years ago)
Jericho Founded
9000 BCE
Corn
Before 9000 BCE
Mexico
Plaster Invented
before 9000 BCE
The Domestication of Rice
circa 8000 BCE
China
Phenotype Variation: Blue Eyes
8000 BCE
Genetic Mutation from the Neolithic Era
Under Investigation: Yonaguni Monument
circa 8000 BCE (speculative)
Mexico: Guilá Naquitz (Agrarian)
circa 8000 BCE
Americas Agrarian Society
Phenotype Variation: Lactose Tollerance
7500 BCE
Egypt: Nabta Playa (Agrarian)
circa 7500 BCE
Middle East Agrarian Society
Greece: Sesklo Culture (Agrarian)
circa 7500 BCE
Europe/Mediterranean Agrarian Society
Ain Ghazal Statues: Early Plaster Art
circa 7200 BCE
Jordan
City of Catalhoyuk
7,100 BCE
7,100 to 5,700 BCE
Neolithic Symbols: China
7000 BCE
7000-6001 BCE
Zoroastrian Universe Creation Date
circa 7000 BCE
12,000 to 9,000 BCE (representing the start of 12,000 years)
China: Jiahu Settlement (Agrarian)
circa 7000 BCE
Asia Agrarian Society
New Guinea: Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Agrarian)
circa 7000 BCE
Oceana-Australasia Agrarian Society
Atlit Yam Neolithic Village
6900 to 6300 BCE
Origins over 9,000 Years Ago
Early Sumer Civilization
6500 BCE
6500 through 1900 BCE
Oldest Known Flute in China
6,000 BCE
Cheese
Before 5500 BCE
Poland
Dispilio Tablet: European Proto-Writing
circa 5,260 BCE
7,260 Years Ago
Vinor Circular Building: a roundel
4900 BCE
Up to 7,900 Years Ago (Neolithic)
Proto-Inca People
circa 4500 BCE
6,500 Years Ago
4004 BCE, The Bible’s Earth Creation Date
4,004 BCE
Sunday, October 23, 4004 BCE
3761 BCE, Judaic Earth Creation Date
3761 BCE
Proto-Maya People
circa 3500 BCE
5,500 Years Ago
3114 BCE: Mayan Earth Creation Date
3114 BCE
August 11, 3114 BCE