Sweden's prehistory begins after the Pleistocene glaciations, which left the landscape largely devoid of evidence from earlier periods. As the ice receded, the first known human activity in what is now Sweden emerged around 12,000 BCE during the Allerød interstadial, with Late Palaeolithic camps of the Bromme culture in the southern regions. As the Younger Dryas period ended around 9600 BCE, groups such as the Ahrensburgian (or Hensbacka culture) began to appear on Sweden's west coast, practicing hunting, fishing, and sealing.
During the Mesolithic period (beginning c. 9600 BCE), these hunter-gatherer groups continued to expand northward following the retreating glaciers. Two distinct groups met in Scandinavia—one from the south with darker skin and blue eyes, and another from the northeast, with lighter skin and varied eye colors—eventually mixing over time. This era saw the development of microlithic stone tools, semi-permanent fishing settlements, and the early use of pottery.
Land uplift, a significant geological consequence of deglaciation, played an important role in shaping the prehistoric landscape. Coastal settlements once located near the sea are now found inland due to the Earth's crust rebounding from the weight of the glaciers. This uplift has allowed archaeologists to date early coastal sites by their elevation above sea level.