Yes, in ancient times, people classified plants and animals primarily by use rather than by scientific categories. This was a very practical approach as it helped them understand which plants were edible, which animals were dangerous, and which could be used for medicinal purposes.

Here are some examples:

* Edible plants: Ancient civilizations categorized plants based on whether they were edible, poisonous, or medicinal. They would also group plants based on how they were used in cooking (roots, leaves, fruits, etc.).

* Animals for food: Animals were categorized based on whether they were hunted for food, domesticated for meat and milk, or used for transportation or labor.

* Animals for materials: Animals were classified based on their usefulness for providing materials like wool, leather, and bone.

* Medicinal plants: Plants were classified based on their medicinal properties, like healing wounds, treating infections, or relieving pain.

It's important to note that this classification system was largely based on practical experience and observations rather than on scientific principles.

This system of classification continued until the 18th century when Carl Linnaeus developed the modern system of binomial nomenclature, which uses a two-part name for each species and classifies organisms based on their shared characteristics.