Religion has been a factor of the human experience throughout history, from pre-historic to modern times. The bulk of the human religious experience pre-dates recorded history, which is roughly 7,000 years old. A lack of written records results in most of the knowledge of pre-historic religion being derived from archaeological records and other indirect sources, and from suppositions. Much pre-historic religion is subject to continued debate. Religious practices in prehistory Middle Paleolithic (200,000 BC – 50,000 BC) Whether or not Neanderthals had religion is a topic of debate among scholars. Some reject the idea of religion in the lower paleolithic, while others argue it is plausible, though the evidence of cave bear worship or ceremonies is often seen as circumstantial. 100,000 BC: Earliest known human burial in the Middle East. 78,000 BC – 74,000 BC: Earliest known Homo sapiens...