Scandinavian prehistory

Scandinavian prehistory is the study of what happened in the lands that we now call Scandinavia a long, long time ago - like thousands and thousands of years ago, before anyone could write down what happened. Scientists and historians use a lot of different clues to figure out what life was like back then.

Imagine a time before buildings or shops or cars or video games - this is what it was like back then. Instead, people lived outside, in places we call settlements. They used natural materials like wood, bark and skins to build their homes. Some people would even build their homes into the ground, making a cozy little cave-like space.

People who lived back then didn't have supermarkets where they could buy their food. Instead, they were hunters and gatherers - this means they'd hunt animals, collect berries, and even fish to get their meals. Many prehistoric Scandinavians also had domesticated animals like cows and sheep, which they used for food, clothing and even transportation.

One really interesting thing about Scandinavian prehistory is that it was during this time that people started to produce and use metals like bronze and iron. This was a big deal, because metals could be used to make tools and weapons that were stronger and more effective than what people had used before.

Even though we can't travel back in time to see what life was like in prehistoric Scandinavia, we can learn a lot from the things people left behind. This includes things like tools, jewelry, and even rock carvings. By studying these artifacts, historians have pieced together what life was like for prehistoric Scandinavians, and have discovered that they were a resourceful and innovative bunch!