The readers are invited to the fundamental work of the English archaeologist and ethnographer John Lubbock (1834-1913), dedicated to the history of primitive humanity. The author not only explores the life and way of life of prehistoric tribes based on the study of the results of archaeological excavations, but also describes the morals and customs of people living at the level of the Stone Age in the 19th-20th centuries, and on this basis conducts comparative studies. It was John Lubbock who pioneered the integrated use of archaeological and ethnographic material to study prehistoric history. The book contains a large number of illustrations.

Contents: Division of prehistoric archeology into four periods The first discovery of metal. Mention of the Bronze Age by ancient writers. The discovery of iron objects in Nydam Marsh in Schleswig. Signs of the owners. Nature of archaeological evidence. Pottery and ornamentation of various periods. Bronze weapons - not of Roman or German origin. Hallstadt burial ground. About the use of bronze in ancient times. Bronze deltas. Bronze swords. Bronze spearheads, fishhooks, sickles. Bronze knives. Bronze jewelry. Ornamentation of the Bronze Age. Degree of development of metallurgy. Gold jewelry Clothing during the Bronze Age. Burial methods. Urns in the form of buildings. Bronze Age. Various assumptions regarding the discovery and introduction of bronze. The theory attributed to the discovery and widespread in Europe bronze to its native population. Wiebel's conclusions and the instability of the arguments on which they are built. Nilsson's theory regarding the introduction of bronze into Europe by the Phoenicians. Antiquity and the widespread spread of the Phoenician trade. Insufficient evidence given by Nilsson. The Etruscan civilization and its influence on the development of Bronze Age culture in Europe. Magna Graecia. The development of metallurgy among the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians and familiarity with the metals of the primitive Aryan tribe. Metalworking among the Mongol-Tatar-Finnish tribes. Chud bronze antiquities and their relation to Western European ones. The impossibility of a final solution to the issue in the current state of archeology] Stone Age. A huge number of stone tools found in different parts of the world. “Dirty pits” (Grime's Graves). Pressigny. Method of obtaining flint fragments. Use of such fragments by modern savages. Preparation of fragments in Mexico and the Eskimos, Ancient workshops. Use of ancient stone axes. Scrapers. Axes from Danish kjökkenmeddings. Chisels. Spearheads. Daggers. Throwing stones. Arrows. Bone tools. Harpoons. Finds of stone tools outside Europe. Stone tools in Russia. Legends about them. Their distribution. Megalithic monuments in burial mounds. Thumuli or mounds.—Menhirs, Dolmens [Their geographical distribution]. Mention of stone circles and tumuli in ancient history. Megalithic monuments are not of Druid origin. Different opinions about the purpose and era of construction of these monuments .Karnak.Construction of stone circles in modern times.Megalithic monuments of India.Modern Indian dolmens.Stone circles, etc. in Palestine and other countries. Burial in the homes of modern savages. “Houses of the Picts.” Long barrows. Objects placed in the grave were not always intended for actual use in the next world. Models of tools. Grave mounds belong to very different periods, Difficulty determining the period to which the tumulus belongs. Pottery in graves. Inscriptions on stones. Animal bones in tumuli. Funeral feasts. Sacrifice. Advice for those wishing to dig up burial mounds to the extent necessary for their preservation. Megalithic monuments in Russia. Dolmens in the Crimea and the Caucasus. Graves near Inkerman. Ancient lakes settlements of Switzerland. (Pfahlbauts). First discovery of Swiss pile buildings. Tools and tools of lake settlers: axes, knives, saws, clay spindles, flint fragments, arrows. Tools from bones and wood. Pottery. Clothing. Fauna of lake settlements. Italian terramara. Danish kitchen remains or shell heaps. (Kjøkkenmöddings). The importance of Denmark in relation to prehistoric archeology. Danish tumuli. Kjøkkenmöddings, or shell middens. North American archeology. Classifications of antiquities. Antiquity of man in America. Animals of the Quaternary period. Sequence of species. Cave bear. Cave hyena. Cave lion. Cave people. still mountains of southern FranceFlint tools : fragments, scrapers, awls, hammers, spearheads.River gravel deposits.Fakes of stone tools.Signs of real ancient drift tools.Detritus tools are never ground.Antiquity of man.Historical evidence.Evidence of ethnology and physical geography.Vegetation of Denmark.Education EgyptAntiquity of the Mississippi Delta. Man in the Miocene era Modern savages. Unreliability of folk legends. The desire for the miraculous. Progress among savages. Eskimos: summer and winter dwellings, the inside of an Eskimo dwelling, lamps, dirt, food supplies, method of cooking meat, food, difficulty in obtaining water, fire, tools and weapons, hunting, methods of hunting and fishing, sleds, boats, scrapers, clothing, jewelry, cheek cufflinks, music, drawings, funeral rites, objects buried with the deceased. Resourcefulness and ingenuity of savages. Various forms of tools. Differences within the Stone Age. Various boundaries of civilization. Differences in weapons. Isolated position of savages. Geographical distribution of weapons. Differences between savages. Types of use of a dog. Various methods of obtaining fire. Various types of burial, Inheritance of property. Differences in the predominant sounds of speech, in signs, in concepts of decency and morality. Deification of the white man. Curious customs. Social status of women. Savages and children. Low level of morality of savages. Low mental level. Poverty of languages. savages. Insufficient numbering. - Lack of religion among some savage tribes. The beginnings of religion. Low concepts of deity. Witchcraft. Generally pitiful position of savages. Higher animals. The primitive state of man. The spread of man. Ancient tribes. Natural selection as applied to man. The influence of the mind .Increase in wealth.Suffering and anxiety of savages.Superstitious fear.Voluntary self-inflicted torment.Gifts of civilization.Diminishment of suffering.Diminishment sin.The benefits of science.The future.