Sources of Pre History
The Prehistoric Age and Historical Sources
The study of history is a reconstruction of the human past. To build this narrative, historians rely on different types of evidence. When we look at the Prehistoric Age, where no written records exist, these sources become our only window into the life of early humans.
Breakdown of Historical Sources
History is generally reconstructed using two primary categories of sources. The weight given to each depends on the period being studied.
Feature | Archaeological Sources | Literary Sources |
|---|---|---|
Definition | The study of the human past through material remains (tangible objects and structures). | Written records giving detailed accounts of social, political and economic life. |
Examples | Stone tools, pottery, bones, rock paintings, burials | Vedas, epics, Buddhist and Jain texts, foreign accounts |
Use for Prehistory | The main source | Not available |
Archaeological Sources in Detail
Tools and implements — the shape and material of stone tools tell us how early humans hunted and gathered food.
Fossils and bones — human and animal remains show diet, health and the climate of the time.
Rock paintings — sites such as Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) show hunting, dancing and daily life.
Settlement remains — hearths, pits and huts show where and how people lived.
UPSC tip: Questions often ask which period a site or tool belongs to — learn the key sites with their age.
Dating the Past
Scientists use methods such as radiocarbon (C-14) dating for organic remains up to about 50,000 years old, and stratigraphy — reading the layers of soil — to place finds in order. Together, these methods turn scattered objects into a timeline of human progress.