With the fall of the mythical capital, its people and its technologies were soon to be forgotten. In this new age, humans started to spread across the region without a direct contact with the crystals, now buried below the giant pit. This, in other words, marked the end of the mythical era for Paldea, and the start of humanity’s proper prehistory.
Stone Age
We don’t have evidences of contact between humans and the Legendary Titans in Paldea, although the region had to be moved by Regigigas at some point. Even if their involvement left a less strong mark in history, humans were still able to survive the Stone Age. Hard Stones characteristic of Regirock are littered all over the region, although more specific hints to its presence are absent.
What is sure is that the ancient world was a harsh place, and Pokémon fiends to fear. Humans, on the other hand, hunted them for living. It’s once again the classic dichotomy. In a world where both parts struggled to survive, it was only natural for division to grew wider and wider. Early contacts with certain beasts even contributed to their own behavioral evolution, with Hydreigon developing a more ferocious disposition as it was loathed by primitives. It is easy to see how the hydra may have struck as demonic to the eyes of the first human communities, and the attempt to violently suppress it only result in self-fulfilling folklore.
It’s said that Hydreigon grew ferocious because people in times long past loathed it, considering it to be evil incarnate and attacking it relentlessly.
But as consistently occurred all over the world, the mutual animosity could only be overcome as mankind started to gradually get closer to Pokémon. The tome “Of People and Pokémon” we can read in the Academy’s library briefly tells the story of some humans and their effort to bridge the gap dividing them from Pokémon, ultimately coming to a world of harmony that persists to these days.
Far in the past, humankind and Pokémon lived in mutual fear of one another. But some humans who loved and appreciated Pokémon made an effort to bridge this divide, and gradually, the two sides grew closer and found harmony.
If we go by the usual chronology, Growlithe were probably among of the first Pokémon to be domesticated during the Stone Age, much like in other regions of the world. The hounds were obviously crucial in establishing a history between humans and the usage of fire, be it for cooking raw meat or to light the darkness of night. Loyal companions to fight feral animals, they are currently distributed mainly in the eastern section of the region, hinting to an early migration of people from the crater’s ruins.
Archeological findings confirm primitive humans in Paldea were familiar with tools for cutting meat, Axew’s fangs serving as raw material. This doesn’t necessarily mean the dragons were hunted down, as the tusks regrow back when broken. However, modern Axew distribution are around the area inhabited by Growlithe and Arcanine, possibly pointing to the fact they were driven to the outskirts following human activity. As they retired in more isolated caves, they found fitting environments to dig their nests in the ground, as referenced by a Ground Tera Axew on the west border of the crater.
This Pokémon lives in nests that are made in the ground. People in ancient times used its tusks as cooking knives.
Ice Age
We don’t have many sources from the Ice Age mirroring the real world Würm glaciation [115’000–11’700 years ago] in Paldea, also considering fauna characteristic of the time period like Mamoswine and Vanillish is not present in the region. Traces of Regice are also scarce, but numerous Never-Melt Ice are found on Glaseado Mountain [ナッペ山, Mount Napper]. The mountain, whose name derives from the French “napper” [covering with sauce or cream] is obviously associated with a wintry environment, and the un-meltable ice confirms this may have its roots in the last glaciation.
Many rivers currently flow from the mountain, resulting from the melting of glaciers probably formed during the Ice Age. The general process is mirrored by the TMs distribution in the area. Machines associated to the cold environment like Avalanche, Ice Beam, Snowscape, and Blizzard are contrasted with others linked to climate warming — we can loot Overheat directly from a lake originating a small river, in addition to a Sunny Day in the south and two Liquidation at the opposite edges of the mountain. Glaciers’ draining is equally symbolized by the presence of Drain Punch at the source of two different rivers, an image maybe similarly evoked by the Focus Blast in the middle of the northwestern lake and the Aura Sphere in the border between the ice and the grassland up north. Even the Baton Pass to the west may equally represent cold making space for warmth.
East to Montenevera, two major rivers stem from a series of large lakes, converging in a single stream headed south. Veluza inhabit the waters — which is why TMs like Psychic Fangs and Psyshock are common in the area — although some have lost their resistance to Ice as we can see from the Normal Tera in the middle pond.
According to Snacksworth, the same lake is where the Legendary Pokémon Articuno uses to rest and sing until the night, something we can directly test bringing there its favorite food. If this isn’t a recent habit, people from the Ice Age may have looked upon the herald of winter as a beautiful yet cruel bringer of cold, something they had to be wary of with or without the aid of Regice and the warm fur of Mamoswine.
Speaking of Articuno…I do recall this one particular encounter when I was a younger feller. See, I’d found this lovely pond up in the snowy peaks of Paldea and had decided to go for a dip, hankering for a bit of cold-water swimming… when — would you believe it! — Articuno comes swooping down along the nearby waterfall and starts flying about above me, singing away! I was tickled pink, I was. Went on merrily singing with Articuno even as the sun set and the moon rose. Before I knew it, it was morning again!
The river originating from the system of lakes cuts west through the region, connects with Casseroya Lake, until finally flowing into the sea — more specifically, in the intersection between the North and the West Paldean Sea. This is likely why Veluza are mostly found in this section of the region, all connected by the main river. A Fighting Tera Raichu habits a small island between the seas, maybe washed ashore from West Province (Area Three) where a population of Pikachu lives, now evidently willing to train in isolation.
This is likely how Bergmite and Avalugg got their current distribution. If they also reached gargantuan sizes during the Ice Age like in Hisui, they may have originally descended from the mountain directly into the northern sea. More modern specimens, however, likely had to cross the river. A fixed Bergmite encounter is found north the western lake of said complex, while a colony of Avalugg currently inhabits Casseroya Lake. Rather than descendants from the more ancient population drifted to the ocean, a group of smaller ones likely remained on Glaseado and spread through the river on a second time. Some eventually lost their icy composition as they got far from the wintry peak, as testified by the Rock Tera Avalugg on the lower levels of the eastern slope.
Another river originates from the basis of Paldea’s Highest Peak [パルデア最高峰, Paldea’s Highest Peak], one of the Ten Sights of Paldea. The Energy Ball nearby may point out to a forest of Snover and Abomasnow to once exist here, although the fixed population has now moved much further south. This is also hinted by the presence of a lounge of Frigibax and Arctibax nearby, the Pokédex confirming they live in forests — the Dark Tera specimen may have been carving for the tree’s shadow it lost long ago.
This Pokémon lives in forests and craggy areas. Using the power of its dorsal fin, it cools the inside of its nest like a refrigerator.
From the high point, water flows to a secluded section of North Province (Area One), where the snow leaves space for a grassy hill ending in a coast. Here, a colony of Wiglett is led by a Ground Tera Wugtrio — both a nod to their environment and to its earthen counterpart. The area seems to be particularly filled with natural energy, both the Dragon Tail and the Dragon Tera Eelektross testify a certain affinity with draconic essence, while the Stored Power on a small island in the North Paldean Sea is accompanied by the recurring visits of the Legendary Pokémon Lugia.
Speaking of Lugia…I do recall this one particular encounter when I was a younger feller. I was paddling in the sea off Paldea, enjoying a leisurely backstroke through those crystal waters. But it was a real frigid stretch of sea, you understand. Didn’t take long in that water before I’d started to lose all the warmth in my body! I was shaking like a leaf by the time I found an island and crawled ashore. What should appear before me but a great whirlpool heaving in the sea, and — bwoosh! Out of it comes Lugia itself! I was knocked flat on my backside in the shock of it all, so delighted I forgot I was even cold!
The Northen Paldean Sea is, according to Snacksworth, a cold sea, and this is coherent with the presence of another Ice Beam on a small island on the border, and by the general fauna including Bergmite. In this regard, the Dragon Eelektross may also represent the struggle for the Pokémon to live in these waters. The currents generated by the Diving Pokémon are probably what brought Eiscue in the region from their faraway homeland, hence why they are both exclusive to Violet.
If you lick the ice covering its face, you’ll find it has a faintly salty taste. This species rode here on ocean currents from a cold, faraway land.
Another major river originates from the mountain and flows directly into the East Paldean Sea. Despite this, the sea seems to be warmer, with the presence of more tropical Pokémon like Bruxish — but not as much as making it inhospitable for the three Veluza drifted here. This may be due to the hotter climate of the eastern section in general, with East Province (Area Three) being particularly acquainted with the Fire Type — from the lootable Will-o-Wisp, Fire Spin, and Fare Blitz, to the presence of Pokémon like Growlithe and Torkoal, up to a Fire Tera Kirlia near the river’s mouth.
Last main body of water connected to the fringes is the northwestern lake. Storms may be notably recurring here judging by the Thunderbolt near the upper waterfall and the Electric Tera Pincurchin nearby. Three streams stem from here; two of them flow downwards, merging with Casseroya Lake — possibly contributing to the Avalugg migration. One goes north, originating the marshy environment in North Province (Area Three).
A fixed Cetitan encounter is located near the lake, much like another in the first pond complex. While a population of Cetoddle currently inhabits the southern, warmer section of the mountain and the valley at its foot, these Pokémon likely climbed the peak all the way from the ocean sometime during the Ice Age or a previous glaciation. As the Pokédex confirms, these simply used to be Wailmer which slowly adapted to the firm land.
This species left the ocean and began living on land a very long time ago. It seems to be closely related to Wailmer.
A larger, secluded lake is present on the northern section of the mountain. A Poison Tera Primeape lives nearby, bringing the attention to the venom problem afflicting the area. Two Poison Jab are scattered through the map, a Sludge Bomb rests along the river south Montenevera, Toxic Spikes on the very northern edge complete the picture. Glaseado is home to Salandit and Salazzle, but given their presence is more relevant in other areas of the region they seem more of a consequence than a cause — much like the Fire Tera Revaroom near the said isolated TM, obviously arrived there much later in time. If this isn’t a broader representation of modern pollution, it is possible toxic dregs were crystallized inside the ice in ancient times, only to be released at a later date — much like Area Zero’s crystals are natural harvest for poison.
Glaseado has many other smaller ponds, some of which housing fixed encounter with Veluza. One is located right north from one of the Ten Sights of Paldea, Glaseado’s Grasp [ナッペの手, Napper’s Hand]. This hand-shaped formation may have also formed during the last glaciation, the Metronome on the finger’s top clearly is meant as a joke from the developers’ side.
Bronze Age
Between the Ice Age and the rediscovery of metallurgy, humans still lived in caves, and we can see traces of this in their art. Mural paintings dating back to 10’000 years ago shows Cyclizar allowed men to ride on their back since far back in time, attesting again a pacific contact between human and Pokémon.
Apparently Cyclizar has been allowing people to ride on its back since ancient times. Depictions of this have been found in 10,000-year-old murals.
Two fixed encounters on Glaseado Mountain (South) suggest it’s likely here these Pokémon were first domesticated, judging by the cave entrances nearby — although we do not see the painting ourselves. Then these primitives likely split in two, occupying the region on the west and east respectively. This seems to be when Asado Desert [ロースト砂漠, Roast Desert] was firstly colonized — possibly bringing a form of Larvesta worshipping coinciding with the end of the Ice Age, much like in other regions. Here we can even find a Flying Tera Cyclizar, which likely developed the Type to avoid ground moves from the native wildlife.
In short, people form Glaseado descended from the mountain at the end of the Ice Age, and likely merged with other pre-existing cultures like those who domesticated Growlithe in the east. It’s probably around this time metallurgy gets developed, although no Metal Coat can be found in nature and Registeel’s influence may have been limited. With the ice retiring, caves were now exposed to be mined. We can see this even in modern days, the melted sections of Glaseado presenting an abundance of metal-related items and Pokémon. On the northeast, we can loot Iron Defense and Smart Strike, while on the northwest we can find Steel Beam near a Steel Tera Pawmo. Similar mineral treasures revealed to the ancient humans, and the abandonment of wooden tools and weapons in favor of hard metal was just a matter of time.
The shift to a more Neolithic type of society was gradual, but likely experienced a boost with the mass domestication of Gogoat — dated 5000 years ago according to the Pokédex, with the breeding of Skiddo as the natural consequence.
It can sense the feelings of others by touching them with its horns. This species has assisted people with their work since 5,000 years ago.
Gogoat and Skiddo distributions complete themselves. Besides the isolated stock on the southwest, which may have developed independently, the overall population of Gogoat is in the north. The two fixed encounters in North Province (Area One) and (Area Two) may point out to the domestication occurring here from the first time, maybe with the Pokémon migrating from neighboring regions like Kalos. Then they expanded all the way to Casseroya Lake, only for the practice to be adopted by other tribes on a second time, covering the whole region with Skiddo. In other words, the people who went west upon in the initial division reunited with their long-lost cousins taking the long way around.
Shifting to a more sedentary lifestyle, food was one of the main obstacles to overcome, and Gogoat was one of the solutions. At the same time, Growlithe selective breeding may have brought to the birth of many canine varieties. Besides more feral species like Rockruff, Houndour, and Riol, which may have developed with the minimum human influence — with the first joining primitive tribes on the west only at a later time, after Lycanroc population similarly migrated from the north — Fidough represented a crucial step in human advancement, its breath inducing fermentation and making bread not only edible, but delightful. For the same reason, its evolution Dachsburn has long been treasured by farming villages.
The yeast in Fidough’s breath is useful for cooking, so this Pokémon has been protected by people since long ago.
The pleasant aroma that emanates from this Pokémon’s body helps wheat grow, so Dachsbun has been treasured by farming villages.
This of course implies some degree of agriculture to be implemented in everyday life. It probably came as a natural jump upon observing the behavior of certain plant Pokémon, the Pokédex even confirms Bounsweet were once highly valued for the sweet of their syrup. And if you can breed fauna, why not flora too?
Its sweat is sweet, like syrup made from boiled-down fruit. Because of this, Bounsweet was highly valued in the past, when sweeteners were scarce.
In fact, it is possible that a major urban center in the early Bronze Age was located in the Asado Desert. While the area may have been generally arid in the first place, it’s highly hinted the central section was once a more flourishing oasis — to these days we can find Rain Dance and a Grass Tera Sandygast right next to each other, and Skiddo are present in the rocky environment nearby while Bullet Seed is buried in the sands. After all, Moltres seems to visit the place regularly, and while it’s easy to associate the phoenix with the hot sands now, it may have once be seen as the bringer of spring and its blossoms like in other regions.
Speaking of Moltres…I do recall this one particular encounter when I was a younger feller. I was off doing a spot of rock-climbing over in western Paldea at the time. The weather was sure something else that day! Sandstorms were kicking up the whole desert — my mouth was as sandy as the ground! I was about ready to call it quits when… Moltres appeared in a blaze of glory, so bright you could see it through the blowing sands! I don’t know if it meant to cheer me on, but it certainly did, and I completed my climb that day.
It was this ancient settlement that apparently had contacts with the Empire of Calyrex and its rune culture, as we can see with the many Stonjourner littered across the desert which the Pokédex confirms to be made of foreign materials.
The elemental composition of the rocks that form its body were found to match the bedrock of a land far away from this Pokémon’s habitat.
Given the island nation was far more advanced at the time than a still prehistoric Paldea, it’s likely people from Galar arrived from beyond the sea and intermingled with the locals, borrowing some of their customs. It is also worth noticing Stonjourner are exclusive to Scarlet; this doesn’t necessarily mean the contact didn’t happen altogether in Violet, but it was surely less remarkable. Stonjourner are also Sword exclusives, so this may simply be the result of a less advanced runic science in one universe compared to another.
Be it as it may, the pinnacle of ancient Paldea became familiar with foreigners: their language, their technology, their religion; and obviously, their political system. If a Pokémon could reign over an Empire, couldn’t humans do the same? Why remain confined in a small, semi-arid land, when there was a world out there to conquer? The conclusion may have not be immediate, but that imposing desire may have its roots in the late Bronze Age. It took only a couple of millennia to make it a reality.