Paleolithic

Paleolithic

Paleolithic is the earliest period of the Stone Age, marked by the development of the first stone tools. It covers the time from the first known use of stone tools by hominins around 3.3 million years ago to the end of the Pleistocene epoch, around 11,650 years ago. The term Paleolithic comes from the Greek words palaios, meaning old, and lithos, meaning stone. During this extensive period, human ancestors and early humans evolved from early hominins to anatomically modern humans. They developed increasingly complex stone tools, from simple Oldowan choppers to more sophisticated Acheulean hand axes, and eventually to finely crafted Mousterian tools associated with Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens. Paleolithic humans were hunter-gatherers who lived in small, nomadic bands. They relied on a combination of hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants for subsistence. Over time, they developed more advanced hunting techniques, such as the use of spears and other projectiles. The Paleolithic period also saw the emergence of early forms of art, such as cave paintings, engravings, and figurines, which provide insight into the cognitive and symbolic capabilities of early humans. The end of the Paleolithic coincided with the end of the last glacial period and the beginning of the Holocene epoch, which was characterized by a warmer climate and the development of agriculture in various parts of the world

Stone Age, hunter-gatherers, Oldowan, Acheulean, Mousterian

— John Armstrong