2000 BCE was pretty early, but most people know the Egyptians were already around by then. So, what's the starting point we can affix for civilization? Can we start dating things at 3000 BCE? No, 3000 BCE was not the beginning of human history. Not even close!
- 3000 BCE: Narmer Palette
- 3000 BCE: Oldest Russian "dolmens"
- 3000 BCE: Stonehenge 2 (used at least for cremation)
- 3100 BCE: Stonehenge 1 (chalk enclosure, Aubrey holes)
- 3100 BCE: Predynastic serekhs in Egypt
- 3100 BCE: Uruk III tablets
- 3200 BCE: White Temple of Uruk
- 3200 BCE: Indus language carvings
- 3300 BCE: Hongshan sculptures
- 3300 BCE: Ötzi the Iceman wearing grass cloak and leather shoes
- 3400 BCE: Hieroglyphics at Abydos (more pictures)
- 3500 BCE: Varna Necropolis
- 3500 BCE: Stonehenge Cursus
- 3500 BCE: Megalithic Temples of Malta
- 3600 BCE: Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni, Malta
- 4000 BCE: Oldest dolmens (Western Europe)
- 4000 BCE: Tărtăria tablets
- 4300 BCE: Decorated vases by Cucuteni culture
- Map of Neolithic cultures c. 4500 BCE
- 5000 BCE: Henge at Nabta Playa
- 5500 BCE: Oldest menhirs (mostly found in northwestern Europe)
- 6000 BCE: Valcamonica
- 6600 BCE: Jiahu symbols
- 7000 BCE: Mixed drinks at Jiahu
- 7500 BCE: Çatalhöyük
- 7500 BCE: Jericho (wall and tower)
- 8000 BCE: Pre-Stonehenge site cleared and wooden posts erected [1]
- 8500 BCE: Track Rock petroglyphs, Georgia, USA
- 8500 BCE: Settlement in Scotland
- 8770 BCE: Star Carr
- 9500 BCE: Sickle blades on the Nile
- 10000 BCE: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- 11000 BCE: Niaux Cave, Le Portel Cave
- 11000 BCE: Earliest map in Mezhirich, Ukraine
- 12000 BCE: Hunter-gatherer toolkit in Jordan
- 12000 BCE: Tadrart Acacus
- 13000 BCE: The Sorcerer
- 14000 BCE: Qurta etchings in Egypt
- 15000 BCE: Bradshaws
- 17000 BCE: Cosquer cave
- 20000 BCE: Ishango bone
- 20000 BCE: Venus of Laussel
- 22000 BCE: Isturitz Baton
- 23000 BCE: Venus of Willendorf
- 25000 BCE: Lascaux cave paintings
- 25000 BCE: Venus de Brassempouy
- 25000 BCE: Cosquer Cave
- 26000 BCE: Phallus and sculpted bird in Hohle Fels Cave
- 29000 BCE: Lion man in Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany
- 30000 BCE: Blanchard Bone Plaque
- 31000 BCE: Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave with Chauvet Venus and awesome lions
- 35000 BCE: Lebombo bone
- 80000 BCE: Katanda harpoons
- 90000 BCE: Perforated shells at Blombos Cave
- 195000 BCE: Earliest Homo sapiens
- 400000 BCE: Hoxne handaxe
- 400000 BCE: Oldest spears