noun
preceramic period
Historical term for the period before pottery was used in Japan, corresponding roughly to the Paleolithic era.
先土器時代の遺跡から石器が発見された。
Stone tools were discovered at a site from the preceramic period.
旧石器時代 is the more common term for the Paleolithic period in Japan, while 先土器時代 emphasizes the absence of pottery.
Compound of 先 (pre-), 土器 (earthenware), and 時代 (period), literally 'pre-earthenware period'.