ancient people; the ancients
Refers to people who lived in ancient times, often in historical or archaeological contexts.
古代人はどのようにしてピラミッドを建てたのだろうか。
How did ancient people build the pyramids?
古代人 refers to people of ancient times, the historical opposite of 現代人, people living today.
Compound of 古代 (kodai, 'ancient times') and 人 (jin, 'person').