Paleolithic
The Old Stone Age of human prehistory.
The Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age, is a period in human prehistory distinguished by the original development of stone tools. It represents almost the entire period of human prehistoric technology, extending from the earliest known use of stone tools by hominins, c. 3.3 million years ago, to the end of the Pleistocene, c. 11,700 years ago. During this age, hominins grouped together in small societies such as bands and subsisted by gathering plants, fishing, and hunting or scavenging wild animals.
- start_date
- c. 3.3 million years ago
- field
- Prehistoric technology
- known_for
- Original development of stone tools; earliest art and religious behavior; human expansion across continents
Reader's Guide
The Paleolithic is significant as the foundational period of human technological and cultural development. It saw the evolution of humans from early members of the genus Homo, such as Homo habilis, to anatomically and behaviorally modern humans by the Upper Paleolithic. During this time, humans produced the earliest works of art, engaged in burial and ritual, and expanded across the globe, reaching Australia by c. The end of the Paleolithic coincided with the end of the Pleistocene ice age and the extinction of many megafauna, possibly due to climate change and human hunting. The period's legacy is preserved in the knapped stone tools and organic artifacts that survive, providing the primary evidence for early human lifeways.
Did You Know?
- The earliest known stone tools date to c. 3.3 million years ago.
- The first evidence of human fishing comes from artifacts at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov in Israel (c. 780,000 years ago).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paleolithic?
The Paleolithic, often called the Old Stone Age, is the longest and most foundational era of human prehistory. It stretches from approximately 3.3 million years ago to roughly 11,700 years ago, encompassing nearly all of our species' prehistoric technological development.
What are Paleolithic's powers/role?
Its signature contribution is the very first crafting of stone tools, which became the backbone of prehistoric technology. It also witnessed the earliest known instances of artistic expression, ritual or religious behavior, and the spread of human groups across multiple continents.
How does Paleolithic's story end?
The era closes around 11,700 years ago with the end of the Pleistocene ice age. After that, human communities began shifting toward the Neolithic world of farming and permanent settlements.
Why is Paleolithic important?
Because it accounts for virtually the entire prehistoric technological record, it gives us the broadest possible window into how early hominins survived and adapted. Small bands of people made it through by foraging, fishing, hunting, and scavenging while gradually colonizing every continent.
What is Paleolithic's field/specialty?
It sits firmly in the category of prehistoric technology, representing the oldest known phase of tool-making in human history. Everything that came later—agriculture, metalwork, writing—builds on the groundwork laid during this period.
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