1,000,000-8000 BC Palaeolithic

Early humans (Homo erectus) first emerged from Africa into Asia about 1.8 million years ago, and over the next million years spread to most parts of mainland Asia. Simple stone tools, such as choppers and flakes were used by the first humans, but handaxes were introduced into Asia probably from about 1 million years ago.

These Lower Palaeolithic tools were replaced by Middle Palaeolithic flake tools, such as scrapers and projectile points from about 200,000 years ago. In the west of the continent these tools were made by Neanderthals, although in the east Homo erectus continued to survive.

Modern humans (Homo sapiens) first appeared in the Near East about 100,000 years ago, from where they slowly spread to other parts of Asia. By 50,000-60,000 years ago they were in island south-east Asia, ready to cross the deep channels to New Guinea and Australia.

Homo erectus was thought to have died out in south-east Asia with the arrival of modern humans. However, there have been recent discoveries in Flores of tiny humans, only 1m tall, who survived until only 13,000 years ago. Nicknamed the ‘hobbits’, it is suggested that these people were descended from Homo erectus and were around in south-east Asia at the same time as modern humans.