1.
prehistoric era; prehistory; pre-literate period
The period of human history before the invention of writing systems. In Japanese history, this generally refers to the time before the earliest written records, ending roughly with the introduction of Chinese characters.
先史時代の遺跡が発見された。
Prehistoric ruins were discovered.
先史時代の人々は石器を使っていた。
People in prehistoric times used stone tools.
この博物館には先史時代から現代までの展示がある。
This museum has exhibits ranging from prehistoric times to the present.
A compound of 先史 (prehistory, before written history) and 時代 (era, period). Commonly encountered in museum descriptions, history textbooks, and cultural discussions. In Japan, the Jomon period is the most well-known part of the prehistoric era.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先史時代の遺跡: prehistoric ruins
- 先史時代の人類: prehistoric humans
- 先史時代の文化: prehistoric culture
- 先史時代研究: prehistoric studies
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 有史以前: before recorded history — a more literary way to say the same thing
- 古代: ancient times — the period after writing was developed, not before
- 原始時代: primitive era — focuses on the level of technology and social development, not the presence of writing