Prehistory

Ancient city built by villagers as a refuge against the Zombification Plague

Prehistory is the period of time referring to the era before the Arrival of humans in S-2012 and includes the rise and fall of villagerkind and piglinkind as the predominant forms of intelligent life on Craftera. Everything we know about Prehistory is derived from archaeology and oral history.

## History

### Evolution of Villager- and Pigmankind

Villagers and piglins are closely related and share a common ancestor around 2.8 million years ago. Between 400 000 and 250 000 years ago, the earliest modern villagers and piglins roamed Craftera. These early villagers and piglins were hunter gatherers and left little archaeological evidence behind, except for flint tools and firepits. Rare fossil finds indicate that villagers had a diet based mostly on berries, meat, fruit and fish, while piglins were more inclined to feed on vegetables and fruits.

### Agricultural Revolution (10 000 BA)

By 10 000 BA villagers started planting and harvesting crops, primarily wheat, thus starting the Agricultural Revolution. Archaeological finds from this time indicate that villagerkind discovered relatively quickly how to make bread. The first pottery also originates from this period in time and hints at the fact that villagers began storing agricultural products, perhaps for the winter months, but possibly also to trade with other villages. The discovery of similar pottery sherds carbon dated from 10 000 BA all the way to 500 BA and remnant structures hint at the existence of several globe-spanning shared villager cultures, detailed below. Piglins do not seem to have gone through an agricultural revolution, but evidence suggests they might have co-existed with villages and provided protection in return for food. This symbiotic relationship allowed both species to thrive before the Zombification Plague eventually ended thousands of years of mutual cooperation.

### Cobble culture (8 000 - 6 000 BA)

The Cobble culture is the earliest known global villager culture found on Craftera. They are characterized by small cobblestone temples, often found in jungle biomes. These temples were probably used to store valuable resources and traces of ancient traps have been discovered in some of them. In addition, the presence of redstone machinations in some of these temples indicates that the Cobble culture had a primitive understanding of mechanical contraptions. An example of a temple from the Cobble culture sits north of Empire and has been extensively documented by the Library.

### Creeperian culture (2 600 - 2 400 BA)

From around 2600 to 2400 BA, a culture known as the Creeperian culture constructed several pyramids across tbe deserts of Craftera. At least one such structure has survived and was excavated by the Library in cooperation with archaeologists from Frozyland and Ingen City. The digsite in question is located just west of Ingen City. This culture is known for being the first recorded instance of villagers carving drawings into the wall. Several inscriptions of creepers are often found in the pyramids' interior, hence lending its name to this culture. The presence of treasure at the bottom of a vertical shaft in the center of the pyramid suggests that this culture did not experience any severe effects from the zombification plague yet. The presence of diamonds in these treasure rooms further points to the fact that this culture operated mines deep enough to find diamonds. The presence of bones in these shafts and the fact that they are trapped with TNT are perhaps an indication that these shafts were used as burial places for prominent individuals within this culture.

Structural similarities between the pyramids of this culture and the later ocean monuments of the Doverian culture hint at the fact of some continuity between these two cultures. Perhaps the zombification plague eventually drove villagers and piglins from the pyramids towards the oceans, where the plague could not touch them yet.

### Doverian culture (1 500 - 400 BA)

Doverian culture, named after Port Dover in the Kingdom of Frozyland, pertains to the widespread prehistoric villager culture characterized by prismarine temples. One such temple, located off the coast of Port Dover, has been extensively studied by the Library. The structure is in the shape of a 'U', the entrance being between the legs of the 'u'. The main pyramid is located in the center between the two legs. Today, these structures are typically inhabited by Guardians.

It is believed these temples once were purposefully built on the ocean floor to provide a natural barrier against the zombie virus. The presence of Guardians further points to the fact that the ocean monuments might have been refuges against the plague. In addition to these ocean monuments, several ruined villages found beneath the sea level have also been linked to this culture. It is believed Doverian culture was a seafaring culture, seeking the proximity of the ocean as a protection against the zombie virus. However, around 400 BA, a mutated strain of the virus allowed it to survive underwater, possibly explaining the collapse of the Doverian culture.

Doverian culture shows several similarities to Trail culture, including a similar style of building houses. The biggest difference between the two is the use of materials. While Doverian culture is characterized by dull stones like andesite and granite, the Trail culture is much more colourful through their use of terracotta.

### Trail culture (800 - 250 BA)

The Trail culture is characterized by its colourful structures, often centered around a tower surrounded by several houses. The use of terracotta as a building material, even in biomes where this resource is not naturally found, indicates that the Trail culture relied on a trade network spanning across different biomes and continents. The presence of ancient mineshafts in mesa biomes is perhaps an indication of the Trail culture's presence in these biomes. The Trail culture has also been characterized by the fact that of all ancient cultures, they produced the highest amount of pottery, further indicating the abundance of resources and trade during the height of their existence. This abundance and colourfulness is in stark contrast to the idea that the virus had driven villagers and piglins to the coastlines and into hiding. Perhaps that the invention of iron golems led to a temporary resurgence of villager and piglin culture.

However, by 250 BA, the Trail culture disappears from the face of Craftera. Currently, the most accepted theory regarding their disappearance is the further mutation of the Z-5 virus, driving piglins into the Nether and villagers into hiding.

### Stronghold culture (250 - 150 BA)

The discovery of underground strongholds and ancient cities initially perplexed archaeologists across the world. However, recent theories regarding the Z-5 virus state that these strongholds were the last attempts of villagerkind to protect against hordes of zombies. The presence of libraries in strongholds indicate that the villagers who constructed these structures were trying to preserve the knowledge of their civilization. In addition, the discovery of prison cells point towards the fact that they might have experimented with curing villagers. Similarly, ancient villages showcase a need for protection against hostile zombies. The presence of Wardens indicates that villagers in ancient cities might have adopted a lifestyle of silence, allowing them to be protected by the Warden who would certainly hunt down noisy zombies. However, the presence of portals to the End Dimension and the giant empty frames found in ancient cities are still a mystery to archaeologists today. Did villagers try to escape to the End? Or did they come into contact with another civilization from the End, the original architects of the End Cities? These questions remain unanswered.

### Modern villager culture (150 BA - present)

Modern villager culture is characterized by the construction of small to medium sized villages often centered around a church, a blacksmith or a well. These villages remain small in size, probably as a way of defense against Zombie hordes, since the proximity of the houses allows for a quick escape to safety. These villages are often made mostly out of wood, in stark contrast to the mostly stone buildings which characterize the ancient villager cultures. Perhaps the arrival of humans on Craftera has led to a general sense of safety in villagerkind, causing them to choose more locally available resources.

### Modern piglin culture (150 BA - present)

Around 150 BA, all traces of Piglin presence in the Overworld disappear from the archaeological record. It is widely accepted that their kind became infected by the zombification plague and retreated into the Nether, where the hot and dry climate kept the disease from turning the infected into zombies. In the Nether, the Piglins began constructing bastions to keep themselves save from the hostile mobs of the Nether. The pigs they initially brought over as food sources have mutated into the Hoglins we know today. The Nether has turned these creatures into hostile man-eating beasts. Piglins too have become more hostile compared to the symbiotic relationship they previously had with villagers. However, they will be more friendly when presented with gold, perhaps a remnant of their symbiotic relationship with the villagers.