Relating to the period before written historical records were kept, typically referring to the time before the development of writing systems. Describes ancient times known only through archaeological evidence.
From pre- (before) + historic, from Greek historia (inquiry, history). Coined in the mid-19th century as archaeology developed as a science, distinguishing between periods known through written records and those known only through material remains.
The prehistoric period encompasses 99% of human existence - our entire species' story except for the last few thousand years. What's fascinating is that 'prehistoric' varies by location: ancient Egypt was already historical while much of Northern Europe remained prehistoric for centuries longer.
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