1. History and Prehistory 

Humans have lived on Earth for about 200,000 years. That may seem small compared to Earth's age of 4-billion years, but it is still a very long time! History helps us study the past to learn how our ancestors lived. 

History is the study of the past. We use the word history to talk about the past in general. But when we talk about history as a subject, it means studying the time period after people started keeping written records. This means history refers to the time period after the invention of writing. History focuses on studying and analysing written records of the past.1 

The earliest period of human history without written records is called the prehistoric period. Prehistory refers to the time period before written records existed or writing systems were developed. It tells the story of humans before they learned to read and write. Even without written records from the past, we can gather information about prehistoric times by examining ancient artefacts, drawings, carvings, and other archaeological evidence. These things provide clues about how people lived in earlier times before writing was developed.2 

1. Who is an Archaeologist? 

• History helps us understand our cultures and traditions, such as how festivals were celebrated in the past and how they have evolved over time.4

• History allows us to gain knowledge and insights about past events, people, and civilizations.4

• The study of history enables us to learn from past mistakes and avoid repeating them.4

• History tells us about great rulers and leaders who are a source of inspiration for us even today.4

• History helps us study the past to learn how our ancestors lived.4 

We do not have a written record of the earliest period of human history. However, there are different sources that can help archeologists trace the evolution of Early humans. 

1. Sources of History

a. Fossils:

Fossils are remains of bones, animals, or plants that have been firmly fixed in the rock or soil. Fossils of early humans provide information about when they lived, their physical characteristics, and other details about their lives.5 

Fig 1.2: Archaeologist examining human remains

b. Tools:

Stone tools serve as a vital source of history, offering archaeologists evidence of human activity over millions of years. Stone tools are durable and can be found in a wide range of environments, which makes them ideal for archaeological study. By studying stone tools, archaeologists can learn about the people who made them, their way of life, and how they evolved over time6. 

Fig 1.3: Stone tools found at the site in Kenya showed that they had been used to cut and scrape

c. Cave Painting:

Cave paintings are an essential piece of evidence for understanding the lives of early humans and the progress they made in expressing themselves through art. They give us clues about how early humans lived, what animals they hunted, and even what they believed in7. For example in the above fig 1.4, we can infer that humans hunted animals using a weapon or a tool.