Prehistoric Hong Kong

Prehistoric Hong Kong is the period between the arrival of the first humans in the modern Hong Kong region of the current China and the start of recorded Chinese history first appeared during the period of the Han empire. The history of the southern region (which may possibly include Hong Kong) is reckoned to have first recorded in 214 BC with Qin Shi Huang conquering the Yueh (Hundred Yueh/PRC pinyin:Baiyue) civilization and creating the Jiaozhou province.

According to recent archaeological findings, there were possibly many significant differences between the Yueh civilization and the Qin-Han civilization. According to the historical records written during the Han empire (which originated in the Northwestern region of the current China along the Yellow River), the Yueh people (who originated in the Southern region of the current China along the Pearl River) were mainly barbarians with little or no civilization. However, there is archaeological evidence found in Hong Kong, suggesting that the Yueh civilization may have existed longer and was more advanced in some aspects than the original Qin-Han civilization (also known as the Longshan culture).

The prehistorical period can be divided into Stone Age and Bronze Age. Archaeology evidence suggests the earliest human settlement was in the Chek Lap Kok area dating back to 33,000 - 37,000 BC.