A caveman is a prehistoric human who lived tens of thousands of years ago, before the invention of farming, writing, or permanent houses. The name comes from the fact that many of these early people sometimes sheltered in caves, though they also lived in temporary structures made from branches, animal skins, and other natural materials. Archaeological evidence shows that cavemen hunted animals with stone-tipped spears, gathered berries and roots, made tools from rocks and bones, and even created beautiful paintings on cave walls.

The term gets used loosely to describe any of our prehistoric ancestors, from Neanderthals to early modern humans. Scientists prefer more specific terms like “Paleolithic humans” or “Stone Age people,” since not all prehistoric people lived in caves and the word can make them seem less advanced than they actually were. These early humans were remarkably clever: they discovered how to make fire, developed complex languages, created art, and survived in harsh environments without any of the technology we depend on today.

Sometimes people use caveman as an insult to describe someone with rough manners or outdated ideas, like saying someone “acts like a caveman” if they're being rude at dinner. But actual cavemen were intelligent, resourceful people adapting to a challenging world with the tools and knowledge they had.