The term "early human" refers to the various species of humans that lived on Earth during the prehistoric times. Some common synonyms for "early human" are "ancestral human", "prehistoric human", "primitive human", "hominid", and "proto-human". These terms are used to describe the different stages of human evolution, from the earliest primates to the emergence of modern humans. The study of early humans is important as it helps us understand our evolutionary history and the origins of human behavior. By studying early human artifacts, fossils and DNA, researchers can piece together how early humans lived, what they looked like, and how they evolved over time.