Does "prior" in "a few years prior" mean "earlier"?
I'm not used to prior used like this way without preposition 'to'. Is 'prior' also used instead of 'earlier'?

"We filmed this less than 10 minutes walking from where Emily would have ended her life only a few years prior."

Question

Does "prior" in "a few years prior" mean "earlier"?
I'm not used to prior used like this way without preposition 'to'. Is 'prior' also used instead of 'earlier'?

"We filmed this less than 10 minutes walking from where Emily would have ended her life only a few years prior."

Answer

Yes that is correct. Prior can be used to say something that has happened before or that must be done before something. for exampl.

"I have prior experience"

"The Library is open to members of the public by prior appointment "

Answer

Yes, here "prior" means "earlier" or "ago."