History - The pleistocene period ended about 10.000 years BC, then it was followed by the coming of aluvium period or holocene period which continues up to now. In this period, the ancestor of today's human beings appeared - the homo sapiens or intelligent beings.
The pre-historic period can be divided according to archeological division (archeology is the science that studies the cultural products of the past in the form of objects of cultural heritages of human beings in that period). Accordingly, the pre-historic period can be divided as follows.
1. Stone age
This happened before metals were known and cultural tools were mainly made of stone, in addition to wood and bone. The stone age is further divided as follows :
a. Old stone age (Paleolithic)
Old stone age is also called Paleolithic in which stone tools were still roughly made, not sharpened or polished. The life tools were also still simple in shape, for example hand-held axe. Based on the livelihood, this period is called hunting and food collecting period. The supporter of this culture was homo erectus consisting of pithecanthropus and homo erectus.
b. Midde stone age (Mesolithic)
In the middle stone age (Mesolithic), some of thestone tools were already sharpened, especially the blades. Peoplead also know earthenware. This period is as know as advanced hunting ad food colectng perod.
The supporter ofthis clturewas o sapies (today'shumas) cosisg of Austrmelanosoid race (majoriy) ad Mongoloidrace (minority). This was a transitional period in wich life tooswere more iel made hn tools of the old stone age. One example is pebble (Sumatran axe).
c. New stone age (Neolithic)
The stone tools of the new stone age (Neolithic) were already sharpened and polished, so they looked smooth and beautiful. Besides, earthenware, woven material, and batik were already known. This period is also called cropping period.
The supporter of this culture was homo sapiens consisting of Mongoloid race (majority) and Austromelanosoid race (minority). Examples of tools of this period are : square axe and oval axe.
The stone tools of the new stone age (Neolithic) were already sharpened and polished, so they looked smooth and beautiful. Besides, earthenware, woven material, and batik were already known. This period is also called cropping period.
The supporter of this culture was homo sapiens consisting of Mongoloid race (majority) and Austromelanosoid race (minority). Examples of tools of this period are : square axe and oval axe.
2. Metal age
In the metal, people were already able to make tools of metal, in addition to stone tools. People already knew the technique for smelting metal and mould it into tools they wanted. There were two methods of making metal tools, one was by using a stone mould and this technique was called bivalve, while the other way was by using a clay mould and was and this was called 'acire perdue'.This period also called craftsmanship period because there appeared a group of people who were experts in making things by hand. The metal age is divided as follows :
a. The copper Age
People used copper as a cultural means. This cultural means was only known in some parts of the world. It was not konows in Southeast Asia (including Indonesia).
b. The Bronze Age
In this time, people were already able to mix copper with other metals to obtain a harder metal. The most dominant discoveries were tools made of bronze, so this period was called the bronze age.
a. The copper Age
People used copper as a cultural means. This cultural means was only known in some parts of the world. It was not konows in Southeast Asia (including Indonesia).
b. The Bronze Age
In this time, people were already able to mix copper with other metals to obtain a harder metal. The most dominant discoveries were tools made of bronze, so this period was called the bronze age.
c. The Iron Age
In this period, people were already able to smelt iron ore and cast it to make tools they needed. Smelting iron is more difficult than smelting copper or bronze because it needs a higher temperature, +/- 3500° C.
The metal age in Indonesia was dominated by bronze tools, so the period was also called bronze age. There were only a few iron tools invented in this time and most of them were similar to bronze tools in shape. Most of iron tools were invented in the historic time.
It should be noted however, that although the metal age began, it does not mean the stone age had completely ended because in the metal age stone tools still developed, even now they still do. The term metal age is only used to show that in that period, people started to know and use metal tools.
The development of metal age in Indonesia was different from Europe because the metal age in Europe passed 3 phases, they were the copper age, bronze age, and iron age. In Indonesia and also in Southeast Asia, however, there was no copper age, the area only experienced two ages - the bronze age abd iron age which happened almost at the same time.
In betweeen the stone age and metal age, megalithic culture developed, that is a culture that used large stones as tools, and the peak of the culture even happened in the metal age. That is the description of the periodization of pre-historic period archeologically. To better understand the description, please study the chart below :
Next article history : Geological Periodization of Pre historic Time
May be useful to readers of history.
In this period, people were already able to smelt iron ore and cast it to make tools they needed. Smelting iron is more difficult than smelting copper or bronze because it needs a higher temperature, +/- 3500° C.
The metal age in Indonesia was dominated by bronze tools, so the period was also called bronze age. There were only a few iron tools invented in this time and most of them were similar to bronze tools in shape. Most of iron tools were invented in the historic time.
It should be noted however, that although the metal age began, it does not mean the stone age had completely ended because in the metal age stone tools still developed, even now they still do. The term metal age is only used to show that in that period, people started to know and use metal tools.
The development of metal age in Indonesia was different from Europe because the metal age in Europe passed 3 phases, they were the copper age, bronze age, and iron age. In Indonesia and also in Southeast Asia, however, there was no copper age, the area only experienced two ages - the bronze age abd iron age which happened almost at the same time.
In betweeen the stone age and metal age, megalithic culture developed, that is a culture that used large stones as tools, and the peak of the culture even happened in the metal age. That is the description of the periodization of pre-historic period archeologically. To better understand the description, please study the chart below :
May be useful to readers of history.
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