<1000 BC Prehistoric Croatia
We know for a fact that Croatia was inhabited by Neanderthals some 50,000 years ago, as their bones were discovered on a hill above Krapina and are now the subject of the compelling Neanderthal Museum in Krapina.
Homo sapiens soon took over; the Vela Spila cave above Vela Luka on Korčula has yielded human remains from around 20,000BC, while ceramic fragments from the same location have been dated to 15,000BC.
Between 3000 - 2000BC eastern Croatia played host to the so-called Vučedol Culture, whose stunningly decorated ceramics are on show at the Vučedol Culture Museum near Vukovar.