Composed of 先 (before, prior) + 史 (history, chronicle). Literally 'before history,' a direct translation of the European term 'prehistory.' It is contrasted with 有史 ('with history,' i.e. the period for which written records exist).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先史時代: prehistoric era (by far the most common usage)
- 先史学: prehistory (as an academic discipline)
- 先史人 / 先史時代の人々: prehistoric people
- 先史遺跡: prehistoric archaeological site
- 先史文化: prehistoric culture
RELATED TERMS:
- 有史: historic (era) — the opposite of 先史; the period for which written records exist.
- 有史以来: since the beginning of recorded history — a very common fixed phrase.
- 原始時代: primitive times — a related but more general term, sometimes treated as equivalent to 先史時代.
- 考古学: archaeology — the main academic discipline through which 先史 is studied.
- 古代: ancient times — the period after the transition to written history, not prehistoric.
USAGE NOTE:
先史 is essentially a bound (compound-only) element and rarely stands as a full noun on its own. When it does appear alone it is a clipped form of 先史時代. In most sentences it functions as a prefix attached to another noun: 先史時代, 先史文化, 先史遺跡, etc.
REGISTER:
Academic and written. Common in history textbooks, museum exhibit panels, archaeological publications, and documentaries. In everyday conversation Japanese speakers are more likely to refer concretely to specific periods like 縄文時代 or to use 大昔 ('ancient times').