Japanese prehistory

Japanese prehistory covers the period before written records, starting from early human settlement about 30,000 years ago. It includes the Paleolithic era, when people used stone tools, and the Neolithic Jomon period (around 14,000–300 BCE), known for its cord-marked pottery and semi-permanent villages. Later, the Yayoi period (300 BCE–300 CE) introduced rice farming, metal tools, and social hierarchies, shaping the foundations of Japanese culture. This era transitions into historic times with the advent of writing and recorded history, reflecting significant developments in society, technology, and interaction with neighboring cultures.