List of Time Periods - Human Time Periods

Human Time Periods

These can be divided broadly into prehistorical (before history began to be recorded) and historical periods (when written records began to be kept

Further information: List of archaeological periods

In archaeology and anthropology, human prehistory is subdivided around the three-age system. This list includes the use of the three-age system as well as a number of various designation used in reference to sub-ages within the traditional three.


    • Paleolithic Age
      • Lower Paleolithic
      • Middle paleolithic
      • Upper Paleolithic
    • Mesolithic Age
    • Neolithic Age
  • The Stone Age
  • The Copper Age. Note: The Copper Age was not part of the original three-age system.
  • The Bronze Age
  • The Iron Age

The dates for each age can vary by region. On the geologic time scale, the Holocene epoch starts at the end of the last glacial period of the current ice age (around 10,000 BC) and continues to the present. The beginning of Mesolithic is usually considered to correspond to the beginning of the Holocene epoch.

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