Timeline of prehistory

The timeline of prehistory covers the time from when humans first appeared to the time writing was invented. The appearance of Homo sapiens happened approximately 315,000 years ago in the African continent, and the invention of writing over 5,000 years ago. The first records are from 3,200 BC. Prehistory covers the period from the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) to the beginning of ancient history.

All dates are approximate and may change based on new discoveries or studies.

Middle Paleolithic

• 320 kya – 305 kya: People at Olorgesailie, in Southern Kenya, improve their skills in making tools and start to trade over long distances.^[1]
• 315 kya: Estimated date when Homo sapiens first appeared (Jebel Irhoud, Morocco).^[2]
• 270 kya: The age of Y-DNA haplogroup A00 also known as ("Y-chromosomal Adam").^[3]
• 250 kya: Date when Homo neanderthalensis (Saccopastore skulls) appeared for the first time.^[4]
• 230 kya: The newest suggested date for the Terra Amata site, which is where the first known building designed for a specific purpose was located, propably built by Homo heidelbergensis.^[5]
• 230 kya – 150 kya: The age of mt-DNA haplogroup L ("Mitochondrial Eve").
• 210 kya: Presence of modern human in southeast Europe (Apidima, Greece).^[6]