The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which humans widely used stone for toolmaking. The more Anthropomorphic Primates of the Hominini tribe are placed in the Hominina subtribe The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts is the period in the Geologic timescale that extends The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. Homo is the Genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives The control of Fire by early humans was a turning point in human cultural evolution that allowed for humans to proliferate due to the incorporation A stone tool is in the most general sense any Tool made of stone. The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, The Neanderthal (neɪˈændərtɑːl also with /niː-/ and /-θɔːl/ or Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from The term Archaic Homo sapiens refers generally to the earliest members of the species Homo sapiens. In Paleoanthropology, the recent African origin of modern humans is one of two hypotheses of the origin of anatomically modern humans Homo sapiens sapiens The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa Behavioral modernity is a term used in Anthropology, Archeology and Sociology to refer to a list of traits that distinguish present day humans and their An atlatl (from Nahuatl ahtlatl; in English pronounced or) or spear-thrower is a Tool that uses Leverage to achieve greater velocity The origin of the domestic dog is the history of the ancestry and the Domestication of the Dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age A microlith is a small stone tool typically knapped of Flint or Chert, usually about three centimetres long or less They are typically one Centimetre A bow is a Weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow A canoe is a small narrow Boat, typically human-powered though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (short PPNA around 9000 BC represents the early Neolithic in the Levantine and upper Mesopotamian region of the Fertile The Neolithic Revolution was the first Agricultural revolution &mdashthe transition from hunting and gathering communities and bands to Agriculture and Domestication (from Latin domesticus) refers to the process whereby a Population of Animals A stone tool is in the most general sense any Tool made of stone. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a Metallurgy is a domain of Materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their There are a number of hypotheses on many of the key issues regarding the domestication of the horse. A wheel is a circular device that is capable of rotating on its axis facilitating movement or transportation whilst supporting a load ( Mass) or performing labour in machines The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere

Stone tools were made from a variety of different kinds of stone. A stone tool is in the most general sense any Tool made of stone. For example, flint and chert were shaped (or chipped) for use as cutting tools and weapons, while basalt and sandstone were used for ground stone tools, such as quern-stones. Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert Chert (ˈtʃɝt is a fine-grained Silica -rich Microcrystalline, Cryptocrystalline or Microfibrous Sedimentary rock that may contain In Archaeology, chipped stone refers to a method of manufacturing Stone tools through Lithic reduction, wherein Lithic flakes are struck off a A weapon is a Tool used either in Hunting, or attack or defence in Combat for the purpose of subduing enemy personnel or to destroy enemy weapons Basalt (bəˈsɔːlt ˈbeisɔːlt ˈbæsɔːlt is a common Extrusive Volcanic rock. Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. In Archaeology, ground stone is a category of Stone tool formed by the grinding of a coarse-grained Tool stone, either purposely or incidentally Quern-stones are a pair of stone tools for hand Grinding a wide variety of materials Wood, bone, shell, antler and other materials were widely used, too. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce Antlers are the usually large and complex horn -like appendages of most Deer species mostly worn by males only for some species such as Caribou by both During the most recent part of the period, sediments (like clay) were used to make pottery. Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware A series of metal technology innovations characterize the later Chalcolithic (Copper Age), Bronze Age and Iron Age. Technology is a broad concept that deals with a Species ' usage and knowledge of Tools and Crafts and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man.

Obsidian projectile point

The period encompasses the first widespread use of technology in human evolution and the spread of humanity from the savannas of East Africa to the rest of the world. Obsidian is a naturally occurring Glass formed as an extrusive Igneous rock. In Archaeology, a projectile point is an object that was hafted and used either as Knife or Projectile tip or both commonly called an Arrowhead Technology is a broad concept that deals with a Species ' usage and knowledge of Tools and Crafts and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt Human evolution, or anthropogenesis, is the part of biological Evolution concerning the emergence of Homo sapiens as a distinct Species Humanity or mankind is the Human species Human nature (eg Compassion, Altruism) and the Human condition (the totality A savanna or savannah is a Tropical or Subtropical Grassland or Woodland Ecosystem. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place It ends with the development of agriculture, the domestication of certain animals and the smelting of copper ore to produce metal. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Domestication (from Latin domesticus) refers to the process whereby a Population of Animals Chemical reduction, or smelting, is a form of Extractive metallurgy. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining It is termed prehistoric, since humanity had not yet started writing -- the traditional start of history (i. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology e. , recorded history). Recorded history can be defined as History that has been written down or recorded by the use of Language, whereas History is a more general term referring

The term "Stone Age" was used by archaeologists to designate this vast pre-metallurgic period whose stone tools survived far more widely than tools made from other (softer) materials. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Metallurgy is a domain of Materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other It is the first age in the three-age system. The three-age system refers to the Periodization of Human Prehistory into three consecutive Time periods named for their respective A division of the Stone Age into an older and younger part was first proposed by Jens Jacob Worsaae in 1859 through his work with Danish kitchen middens that began in 1851^[1]. Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae ( 14 March, 1821 &ndash 15 August, 1885) was a Danish archaeologist, historian and politician The subdivision into the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods that still is in use today, was made by John Lubbock in his now classic 1865 book Pre-historic Times. The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos John Lubbock can refer toSeveral members of the Lubbock family Sir John Lubbock 1st Baronet (1744&ndash1816 Sir John Lubbock 2nd Baronet These three periods are further subdivided. In reality, the succession of phases differs enormously from one region (and culture) to another, indeed, humanity continued to expand into new areas even during the metal ages. The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation. In addition to its usual meaning in Social science, in Archaeology, the term culture is also used in reference to several related concepts unique to Therefore, it is better to speak of a Stone Age, instead of the Stone Age. As a description of people living today, the term stone age is controversial. The Association of Social Anthropologists discourages this use.

The Stone Age in archaeology

Stone Age fish hook

The date range of this period is ambiguous, disputed, and variable according to the region in question. A fish hook is a device for catching Fish either by impaling them in the mouth or more rarely by snagging the body of the fish While it is possible to speak of a general 'stone age' period for the whole of humanity, some groups never developed metal-smelting technology, so remained in a 'stone age' until they encountered technologically developed cultures. Chemical reduction, or smelting, is a form of Extractive metallurgy. However, in general, it is believed that this period began somewhere around 3 million years ago, starting with the first hominid tool-making in Africa. Annum is one form of the Latin noun meaning Year, not a form normally used for derivatives in modern languages the accusative singular A hominid is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes" including the extinct and extant Humans Chimpanzees Most australopithecines probably did not use stone tools (although they seem to be invented by Paranthropus robustus) but the study of their remains still falls within the remit of archaeologists studying the period. The term australopithecine refers to two very closely related genera within the Hominina subtribe of the Hominini tribe. Paranthropus robustus was originally discovered in Southern Africa in 1938

Due to the prevalence of stone artefacts, which are frequently the only remains which still exist, lithic analysis is a major, and specialised, form of archaeological investigation for the period. In Archaeology, lithic analysis is the analysis of Stone tools and other Chipped stone artifacts using basic scientific techniques This involves the measurement of the stone tools to determine their typology, function and the technology involved. This frequently involves an analysis of the lithic reduction of the raw materials, examining how the artefacts were actually made. Lithic reduction involves the use of a hard hammer percussor such as a Hammerstone, a soft hammer fabricator (made of Wood, Bone or Antler) This can also be examined through experimental archaeology, by attempting to create replica tools. Experimental archaeology employs a number of different methods techniques analyses and approaches in order to generate and test hypotheses or an interpretation based upon archaeological This is done by flintknappers who reduce flintstone to a flint tool. A knapper is a person who shapes Flint, Chert, Obsidian or other stone through the process of knapping or Lithic reduction to manufacture Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert Chipped stone tools were made by Stone age peoples worldwide Paleolithic tools were relatively simple repeated small flakes being struck or pressed from a cobble

Modern use of the term

A variety of stone tools

One problem with the term is that it implies that human advancement and time periods in prehistory are only measured by the type of tool material most widely used, rather than, for example, type of social organisation, food sources exploited, or adaption to harsh climates. A stone tool is in the most general sense any Tool made of stone. Social organization or social institution, refers to a group of Social positions connected by Social relations performing a Social role. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of This is a product of the level of knowledge of the distant past during the nineteenth century when the three age system was developed, a time when finds of artefacts were the main goal of an archaeological excavation. In Archaeology, an artifact or artefact is any object made or modified by a human culture, and often one later recovered by some archaeological Modern archaeological techniques stress a wider collection of information that has expanded our knowledge of prehistory and rendered neat divisions such as the term 'Stone Age' increasingly obsolete. We now know that the changes in past societies over the millennia were complex and involved multiple factors such as the adoption of agriculture, settlement or religion and that tool use is just one unrepresentative indicator of a society's practices and beliefs. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos

Another problem connected with the term Stone Age is that it was created to describe the archaeological cultures of Europe, and that it is inconvenient to use it in relation to regions such as some parts of the Americas and Oceania, where farmers or hunter-gatherers used stone for tools until European colonisation began. In addition to its usual meaning in Social science, in Archaeology, the term culture is also used in reference to several related concepts unique to The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting Colonisation (also known as Colonization) occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area Metal-working was a much less important part of people's lives there and it is more useful to use other terms when dividing prehistory in those areas. The same incongruence applies to the Iron Age worldwide, because in the Americas iron (but not copper, silver or gold) was unknown until 1492, in Oceania until the 17th century. Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar

A Stone Age was usually followed by a Bronze Age, during which metalworking technology allowed bronze (copper and tin or other metals) tools to become more common. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Metalworking is craft and practice of working with Metals to create individual parts assemblies or large scale structures Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus Tin is a Chemical element with the symbol Sn (stannum and Atomic number 50 The transition out of the Stone Age occurred between 6000 BC and 2500 BC for much of humanity living in North Africa, Asia and Europe. During the 6th millennium BC, Agriculture spreads from the Balkans to Italy and Eastern Europe and from Mesopotamia to Egypt. The 25th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 2500 BC to 2401 BC In some regions, such as Subsaharan Africa, the Stone Age was followed directly by an Iron Age. Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. It is generally believed that the Middle East and southeastern Asian regions progressed past Stone Age technology around 6000 BC. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Europe, and the rest of Asia became post-Stone Age societies by about 4000 BC. A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions Events Start of Naqada culture in Egypt 4000 BC — Early Jomon period begins on the islands of Japan The proto-Inca cultures of South America continued at a Stone Age level until around 2000 BC, when gold, copper and silver made their entrance, the rest following later. This South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The 20th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 2000 BC to 1901 BC Australia remained in the Stone Age until the 17th century.

We also now know that the transition from a Stone Age to a Bronze Age was not a neat switch but a long, gradual process involving the working of gold and copper at what are technically Neolithic sites. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos This "transition" period is known as the Copper age or Chalcolithic. The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a It was a short and more a regional development, because alloying tin with copper began quite soon, except in regions lacking tin. Tin is a Chemical element with the symbol Sn (stannum and Atomic number 50 Ötzi the Iceman for instance, a mummy from about 3300 BC carried with him a copper axe and a flint knife. Ötzi the Iceman ( pronounced) Frozen Fritz, and Similaun Man are modern nicknames of a well-preserved natural Mummy of a man A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme Events The Great God "Krishna" who is worshiped in all forms as a boy lover warrior brother king teacher son husband etc Stone tool manufacture also continued long into the succeeding metal-using ages, possibly even until the Early Middle Ages. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 In Europe and North America, millstones were in use until deep the 20th century, and still are in many parts of the world. Millstones or mill stones are used in Windmills and Watermills including Tide mills for grinding Wheat or other grains

Chronology

The three-age system divides human technological prehistory into three periods:

• The Stone Age
• The Bronze Age
• The Iron Age

New ages and subages were added as new archaeological discoveries were made, and different schemes were developed to describe conditions in different places. The three-age system refers to the Periodization of Human Prehistory into three consecutive Time periods named for their respective Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. A more modern periodization of the Stone Age stretches from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic in the following scheme (crossing an epoch boundary on the geologic time scale):

• Pleistocene epoch (highly glaciated climate)
  • Paleolithic age
• Holocene epoch (modern climate)
  • Mesolithic or Epipaleolithic age
  • Neolithic age
  • Copper Age
  • Bronze Age
  • Iron Age
• Historical period (written record begins)

Paleolithic

Main article: Paleolithic

Neanderthal hunter (American Museum of Natural History)

The Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek: παλαιός, palaios, "old"; and λίθος, lithos, "stone" lit. Periodization is the attempt to categorize or divide Time into discrete named blocks The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The Holocene is a Geological epoch which began approximately 10000 years ago (about 8000 BC The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Epipaleolithic is a term used for the "final Upper Palaeolithic industries occurring at the end of the final glaciation which appear to merge technologically into the The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Prehistory See also Prehistory Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH) located on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, USA is one of the largest and most Lithos is a glyphic Sans-serif Typeface designed by Carol Twombly in 1989 for Adobe Systems. "old age of the stone"; was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865. Sir John Lubbock 4th Baronet and 1st Baron Avebury, PC FRS ( 30 April 1834 &ndash 28 May 1913) English banker ) is a prehistoric era distinguished by the development of stone tools. Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" A stone tool is in the most general sense any Tool made of stone. It covers the greatest portion of humanity's time (roughly 99% of human history^[2]) on Earth, extending from 2. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 5^[3] or 2. 6^[4][2] million years ago, with the introduction of stone tools by hominids such as Homo habilis, to the introduction of agriculture and the end of the Pleistocene around 10,000 BC. A hominid is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes" including the extinct and extant Humans Chimpanzees Homo habilis (ˈhoʊmoʊ ˈhæbəlɪs ("handy man" "skillful person" is a Species of the genus Homo, which lived Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period ^[2][5][6] The Paleolithic era ended with the Mesolithic, or in areas with an early neolithisation, the Epipaleolithic. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Neolithic Revolution was the first Agricultural revolution &mdashthe transition from hunting and gathering communities and bands to Agriculture and The Epipaleolithic is a term used for the "final Upper Palaeolithic industries occurring at the end of the final glaciation which appear to merge technologically into the

During the Paleolithic humans were grouped together in small scale societies such as bands and gained their subsistence from gathering plants and hunting wild animals. A band society is the simplest form of human Society. A band generally consists of a small kin group no larger than an Extended family or Clan. ^[7] The Paleolithic is characterized by the use of knapped stone tools, although at the time, humans also used wood and bone tools. Lithic reduction involves the use of a hard hammer percussor such as a Hammerstone, a soft hammer fabricator (made of Wood, Bone or Antler) A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other Other organic commodities were adapted for use as tools, including leather and vegetable fibers; however, given their nature, these have not been preserved to any great degree. Humankind gradually evolved from early members of the genus Homo such as Homo habilis who used simple stone tools into fully behaviorally and anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) during the Paleolithic era. Homo is the Genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives Homo habilis (ˈhoʊmoʊ ˈhæbəlɪs ("handy man" "skillful person" is a Species of the genus Homo, which lived Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus ^[8] During the end of the Paleolithic specifically the Middle and or Upper Paleolithic humans began to produce the earliest works of art and engage in religious and spiritual behavior such as burial and ritual. ^{[9][10][11][7]} The climate during the Paleolithic consisted of a set of glacial and interglacial periods in which the climate periodically fluctuated between warm and cool temperatures.

See also: Human evolution

Lower Palaeolithic

Main article: Lower Palaeolithic

Near the end of the Pliocene epoch in Africa, an early ancestor of modern humans, called Homo habilis, developed the earliest known stone tools. Human evolution, or anthropogenesis, is the part of biological Evolution concerning the emergence of Homo sapiens as a distinct Species The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts is the period in the Geologic timescale that extends Homo habilis (ˈhoʊmoʊ ˈhæbəlɪs ("handy man" "skillful person" is a Species of the genus Homo, which lived These were relatively simple tools known as choppers. define a chopper as a Pebble tool with an irregular cutting edge formed through the removal of flakes from one side of a stone Homo habilis is presumed to have mastered the Oldowan era tool case which utilized stone flakes and cores. Oldowan (earlier spelled Olduwan or sometimes Oldawan) is an anthropological designation for an industrial complex of Stone tools used by Archaeology, a lithic flake is a "portion of rock removed from an objective piece by percussion or pressure" and may also be referred to as a chip or spall or collectively In Archaeology, a lithic core is a distinctive artifact that results from the practice of Lithic reduction. This industry of stone tools is named after the site of Oldupai Gorge in Tanzania. An archaeological industry is the name given to a consistent range of assemblages connected with a single product, such as the Langdale axe industry. The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is commonly referred to as "The Cradle of Mankind Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya These humans likely subsisted on scavenged meat and wild plants, rather than hunted prey. Around 1. 5 million years ago, a more evolved human species, Homo erectus, appeared. Homo erectus ( Latin: "upright man" is an extinct species of the genus Homo, believed to have been the first hominin H. erectus learnt to control fire and created more complex chopper tools, as well as expanding out of Africa to reach Asia, as shown by sites such as Zhoukoudian in China. In Paleoanthropology, the recent African origin of modern humans is one of two hypotheses of the origin of anatomically modern humans Homo sapiens sapiens Zhoukoudian or Choukoutien ( is a cave system near Beijing in China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National By 1 million years ago, the earliest evidence of humans in Europe is known, as well use of the more advanced handaxe tool. A handaxe is a bifacial Lower and Middle Paleolithic core Tool.

Middle Palaeolithic

Main article: Middle Palaeolithic

This period began about 200,000 years ago and is most well-known as being the era during which the Neanderthals lived (c. The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, The Neanderthal (neɪˈændərtɑːl also with /niː-/ and /-θɔːl/ or Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from 120,000–35,000 years ago). The stone artefact technology of the Neanderthals is generally known as the Mousterian. Mousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly Flint tools (or industry) associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis The Neanderthals eventually disappeared from the archaeological record, replaced by modern humans who first appeared in Ethiopia around 100,000 years ago. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Although often identified in the public's mind as primitive, there is evidence that Neanderthals nursed their elderly and practised ritual burial indicating an organised society. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions The earliest evidence of settlement in Australia dates to around 40,000 years ago when modern humans likely crossed from Asia by hopping from island to island. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The written history of Australia began when Dutch explorers first sighted the country in the 17th century Middle Palaeolithic peoples demonstrate the earliest undisputed evidence for art and other expressions of abstract thought such as intentional burial of the dead. Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual During the Middle Paleolithic humans first began to migrate out of Africa (c. 100,000 BCE).

Upper Palaeolithic

The cave art of Lascaux is an example of Upper Palaeolithic culture

Main article: Upper Palaeolithic

From 35,000 to 10,000 years ago (the end of the last ice age) modern humans spread out further across the Earth during the period known as the Upper Palaeolithic. Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times Lascaux is the setting of a complex of Caves in southwestern France famous for its prehistoric Cave paintings The original caves are located near The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 After the arrival of the first modern humans (Cro-Magnons) in Europe a relatively rapid succession of often complex stone artefact technologies took place during this period, including the Châtelperronian, Aurignacian, Solutrean, Gravettian and Magdalenian. Cro-Magnon ( French) is one of the main types of Homo sapiens of the European Upper Paleolithic, living approximately 40000 to 10000 years Châtelperronian was the earliest industry of the Upper Palaeolithic in central and south western France, extending also into Northern Spain. Aurignacian is the name of a culture of the Upper Palaeolithic located in Europe and southwest Asia. The Solutrean industry is a relatively advanced flint tool-making style of the Upper Palaeolithic. The Gravettian was an industry of the European Upper Palaeolithic. The Magdalenian, also spelled Magdalénien refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western Europe.

The Americas were colonised via the Bering land bridge which was exposed during this period by lower sea levels. The Bering land bridge was a Land bridge roughly 1000 miles (1600 km north to south at its greatest extent which joined present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia These people are called the Paleo Indians, and the earliest accepted dates are those of the Clovis culture sites, some 13,500 years ago. Paleo-Indians or Paleo-Americans were the ancient peoples of the Americas who were present at the end of the last Ice Age. The Clovis culture (sometimes referred to as the Llano culture) is a Prehistoric Paleoindian culture that first appears in the archaeological Globally, societies were hunter-gatherers but evidence of regional identities begins to appear in the wide variety of stone tool types being developed to suit different environments. A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting

Epipalaeolithic/Mesolithic

Main articles: Epipalaeolithic, Mesolithic

The period between the end of the last ice age, 10,000 years ago to around 6,000 years ago, was characterised by rising sea levels and a need to adapt to a changing environment and find new food sources. The Epipaleolithic is a term used for the "final Upper Palaeolithic industries occurring at the end of the final glaciation which appear to merge technologically into the The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The development of microlith tools began in response to these changes. A microlith is a small stone tool typically knapped of Flint or Chert, usually about three centimetres long or less They are typically one Centimetre They were derived from the previous Palaeolithic tools, hence the term Epipalaeolithic. However, in Europe the term Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) is used, as the tools (and way of life) were imported from the Near East. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Ancient Near East refers to early Civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia (modern Iraq There, microlith tools permitted more efficient hunting, while more complex settlements, such as Lepenski Vir developed based around fishing. Lepenski Vir (Лепенски Вир is an important Mesolithic Archaeological site located in Serbia in the central Balkan Peninsula Domestication of the dog as a hunting companion probably dates to this period. The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order

The earliest known battle occurred during the Mesolithic period at a site in Egypt known as Cemetery 117. Cemetery 117 is an ancient Cemetery discovered in 1964 by a team led by Fred Wendorf near the northern border of Sudan.

Neolithic

Main article: Neolithic

Skara Brae, Scotland. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos ||-||-||-| Skara Brae (ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Europe's most complete Neolithic village

The Neolithic, New Stone Age, was characterized by the adoption of agriculture, the so-called Neolithic Revolution, the development of pottery and more complex, larger settlements such as Çatal Hüyük and Jericho. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The Neolithic Revolution was the first Agricultural revolution &mdashthe transition from hunting and gathering communities and bands to Agriculture and Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware Çatalhöyük (ʧɑtɑl højyk in Turkish also Çatal Höyük and Çatal Hüyük, or any of the three without Diacritics çatal is Turkish Jericho ( Arabic, ʼArīḥā; Hebrew, Standard Yəriḥo Tiberian Yərîḫô The first Neolithic cultures started around 7000 BC in the fertile crescent. The Fertile Crescent is a Crescent -shaped region in the Middle East, originally incorporating the Levant and Ancient Mesopotamia, and often Agriculture and the culture it led to spread to the Mediterranean, the Indus valley, China and Southeast Asia. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Due to the increased need to harvest and process plants, ground stone and polished stone artifacts became much more widespread, including tools for grinding, cutting, chopping and adzing. The first large-scale constructions were built, including settlement towers and walls, eg: Jericho and ceremonial sites, eg: Stonehenge. Jericho ( Arabic, ʼArīḥā; Hebrew, Standard Yəriḥo Tiberian Yərîḫô Stonehenge is a Prehistoric Monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury These show that there was sufficient resources and co-operation to enable large groups to work on these projects. To what extent this was a basis for the development of elites and social hierarchies is a matter of on-going debate. ^[12] Although some late Neolithic societies formed complex stratified chiefdoms similar to Polynesian societies such as the Ancient Hawaiians Most Neolithic societies were relatively simple and egalitarian^[13] though Neolithic cultures were noticeably more hierarchical than the Paleolithic cultures that preceded them and Hunter-gatherer cultures in general. Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawai'i by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. Egalitarianism (derived from the French word égal, meaning equal) is a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting ^[14] The earliest evidence for established trade exists in the Neolithic with newly settled people importing exotic goods over distances of many hundreds of miles. Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Skara Brae located on Orkney island off Scotland is one of Europe's best examples of a Neolithic village. ||-||-||-| Skara Brae (ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The community contains stone beds, shelves and even an indoor toilet linked to a stream.

Material culture

Food and drink

Food sources of the hunter-gatherer humans of the Stone Age included both animals and plants that were part of the environment in which these humans lived. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting See also Natural environment The '''biophysical''' environment is the symbiosis between the physical environment and the Biological These humans liked animal organ meats, including the livers, kidneys and brains. In Biology, an organ ( Latin: organum, "instrument tool" from Greek όργανον - organon "organ instrument The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain They consumed little dairy product or carbohydrate-rich plant foods like legumes or cereal grains. Dairy products are generally defined as Foodstuffs produced from Milk. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants They also ate leaves and roots. They hunted animals. Large seeded legumes were part of the human diet long before the neolithic agricultural revolution as evident from archaeobotanical finds from the Mousterian layers of Kebara Cave, in Israel. A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Mousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly Flint tools (or industry) associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis Kebara Cave ( Hebrew: מערת כבארה Me'arat Kebbara, Arabic: مغارة الكبارة Mugharat al-Kabara) is an Israeli ^[15] Moreover, recent evidence indicates that humans processed and consumed wild cereal grains as far back as 23,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic. The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa ^[16]

Near the end of the Wisconsin glaciation, 15,000 to 9,000 years ago, the Megafauna occurred in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period Megafauna are species of large Animals ( Greek μεγας large + modern Latin fauna animal For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. This was the first Holocene extinction event. The Holocene extinction event is the widespread ongoing Mass extinction of Species during the modern Holocene epoch. This event possibly forced modification in the dietary habits of the humans of that age and with the emergence of agricultural practices, plant-based foods also became a regular part of the diet. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture This extinction may have been caused by humans over hunting wild game animals such as the Wooly mammoth although other scientists believe that the megafauna extinction was instead caused by climate change. The woolly mammoth ( Mammuthus primigenius) also called the tundra mammoth, is an extinct species of Mammoth.

Shelter and habitat

Poulnabrone dolmen in County Clare, Ireland

Around 2 million years ago, "Homo habilis" is believed to have constructed the first man-made structure in East Africa, consisting of simple arrangements of stones to hold branches of trees in position. Overview The NGS's historical mission is "to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural historical and natural Poulnabrone Dolmen ( Poll na mBrón in Irish meaning "hole of sorrows" is a Portal tomb in The Burren, County Clare County Clare ( Irish: Contae an Chláir) commonly referred to as simply Clare, is a county on Ireland and part of the wider Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. A similar stone circular arrangement believed to be around 500 thousand years old was discovered at Terra Amata, near Nice, France. -- 216175714 ( talk) 0344 7 October 2008 (UTC Terra Amata is an Archaeological site near the French town of Nice. Nice (nis Niçard Occitan: Niça norm or Nissa, Italian: Nizza or Nizza Marittima, Greek This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Several human habitats dating back to the Stone Age have been discovered around the globe, including:

• A tent-like structure inside a cave near the Grotte du Lazaret, Nice, France. The Grotte du Lazaret (English Cave of Le Lazaret is a Cave now in the eastern suburbs of the French town of Nice and now overlooking the Mediterranean Nice (nis Niçard Occitan: Niça norm or Nissa, Italian: Nizza or Nizza Marittima, Greek This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
• A structure with roof supported with timber, discovered in Dolni Vestonice, Czechoslovakia, dates to around 23,000 BC. Dolní Věstonice (often without diacritics as Dolni Vestonice) refers to an Archaeological site near village Dolní Věstonice in the Czech Republic For information on the Dolní Věstonice archaeological site please see Dolní Věstonice (archaeology. Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The walls were made of packed clay blocks and stones.
• Many huts made of mammoth bones were found in Eastern Europe and Siberia. A mammoth is any Species of the Extinct Genus Mammuthus. These Proboscideans are members of the elephant family and Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving The people who made these huts were expert mammoth hunters. Examples have been found along the Dniepr river valley of Ukraine, including near Chernihiv, in Moravia, Czech Republic and in southern Poland. For the rocket see Dnepr rocket. For other uses see Dnieper (disambiguation. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Chernihiv, also referred to as Chernigov (Чернігів Чернигов Чарнігаў is a historic city in northern Ukraine. Moravia (Morava; Morawy Moravie Moravia is a historical region in central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, one of the former Czech lands. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland
• An animal hide tent dated to around 15000 to 10000 BC, in the Magdalenian, was discovered at Plateau Parain, France. The Magdalenian, also spelled Magdalénien refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
• Megalithic tombs, multi-chambered and dolmens, single-chambered, were graves with a huge stone slab stacked over other similarly large stone slabs. A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of A grave is a place where a dead body (usually a human although sometimes an animal is buried They have been discovered all across Europe and Asia and were built in the Neolithic. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Several tombs with copper and bronze tools have also been discovered, illustrating the problems of attempting to define periods based on technology.

Art

Pre-historic art can only be traced from surviving artefacts. --> In the history of art prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory beginning somewhere in very late geological history Prehistoric music is inferred from found instruments, while parietal art can be found on rocks of any kind. In the History of music, prehistoric music (previously called primitive music) is all Music produced in preliterate cultures ( Prehistory Parietal art is artwork done on Cave walls or large blocks of stone The latter are petroglyphs and rock paintings. The art may or may not have had a religious function. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos

Petroglyphs

Main article: Petroglyph

Petroglyphs appeared in the New Stone Age, commonly known as Neolithic period. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading A Petroglyph is an abstract or symbolic image recorded on stone, usually by prehistoric peoples, by means of carving, pecking or otherwise incised on natural rock surfaces. They were a dominant form or pre-writing symbols used in communication. Petroglyphs have been discovered in different parts of the world, including Asia (Bhimbetka, India), North America (Death Valley National Park), South America (Cumbe Mayo, Peru), and Europe (Finnmark, Norway). The Bhimbetka rock shelters compose an archaeological site and World Heritage Site located in Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Death Valley National Park is a mostly Arid United States National Park located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Inyo County South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Cumbe Mayo is located about 12 miles (19 km southwest of the Peruvian city of Cajamarca, at an elevation of approximately 11000 feet (3300 meters Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Rock carvings at Alta are part of an archaeological site near the town of Alta in the county of Finnmark in northern Norway.

Rock paintings

A rock painting at Bhimbetka, India, a World heritage site

Main article: Cave painting

Rock paintings were painted on rock and were more naturalistic depictions than petroglyphs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times In paleolithic times, the representation of humans in cave paintings was rare. Mostly, animals were painted: not only animals that were used as food but also animals that represented strength like the rhinoceros or large cats (as in the Chauvet Cave). Rhinoceros (raɪˈnɒsərəs often colloquially abbreviated rhino, is a name used to group five extant species of Odd-toed ungulates in the family Felidae is the biological family of the cats a member of this family is called a felid. The Chauvet Cave or Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave is located at N 44° 21' and E 4° 29' 24" near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, in the Ardèche département in southern Signs like dots were sometimes drawn. Rare human representations include handprints and half-human/half-animal figures. The Cave of Chauvet in the Ardèche département, France, contains the most important preserved cave paintings of the paleolithic era, painted around 31,000 BC. Ardèche ( Occitan and Arpitan: Ardecha) is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River. In the Terminology of Political geography and Historiography a National department (département departamento is an administrative The Altamira cave paintings in Spain were done 14,000 to 12,000 BC and show, among others, bisons. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This is an article about an animal For other uses see Bison (disambiguation. The hall of bulls in Lascaux, Dordogne, France, is one of the best known cave paintings from about 15,000 to 10,000 BC. Lascaux is the setting of a complex of Caves in southwestern France famous for its prehistoric Cave paintings The original caves are located near Dordogne (Dordonha is a department in central France named after the Dordogne River.

The meaning of the paintings remains unknown. The caves were not in an inhabited area, so they may have been used for seasonal rituals. The animals are accompanied by signs which suggest a possible magic use. Arrow-like symbols in Lascaux are sometimes interpreted as calendar or almanac use. The word Calendar consist of two words 1 Cal ( in Pashto means Year in Hindi and Persian is Sal- also means Year ALMANAC is the name of a major Breast cancer trial The Acronym stands for "Axillary Lymphatic Mapping Against Nodal Axillary Clearance But the evidence remains inconclusive. ^[1] The most important work of the Mesolithic era were the marching Warriors, a rock painting at Cingle de la Mola, Castellón in Spain dated to about 7,000–4,000 BC. The technique used was probably spitting or blowing the pigments onto the rock. The paintings are quite naturalistic, though stylized. The figures are not three-dimensional, even though they overlap. ^[2]

Stone Age rituals and beliefs

Modern studies and the in-depth analysis of finds dating from the Stone Age indicate certain rituals and beliefs of the people in those prehistoric times. It is now believed that activities of the Stone Age humans went beyond the immediate requirements of procuring food, body coverings, and shelters. Specific rites relating to death and burial were practiced, though certainly differing in style and execution between cultures. Several Stone Age-dated sites of the in different parts of the world indicate traces of dancing, dancing in files, and initiation rites. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic ^[3]

Popular culture

As a slang term, "Stone Age" is sometimes used to describe living tribal peoples, to imply "backwardness". Slang is the use of highly informal Words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's Dialect or Language. In 2007, the Association of Social Anthropologists called the term "offensive" when applied to any living peoples, saying such language has been used "as a pretext for depriving such peoples of land and other resources".

The image of the caveman is commonly associated with the Stone Age. A caveman is a popular Stock character based upon Stereotyped concepts of the way in which early prehistoric Humans or Homininans may have looked and For example, the 2003 documentary series showing the evolution of humans through the Stone Age was called Walking with Cavemen, although only the last programme showed humans living in caves. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Walking with Cavemen is a four-part Television documentary series about Human evolution produced by the BBC in the United While the idea that human beings and dinosaurs coexisted is sometimes portrayed in popular culture in cartoons, films and computer games, such as The Flintstones and One Million Years B.C., the notion of primates and dinosaurs co-existing is not supported by any scientific evidence. The Flintstones is an animated American television sitcom that ran from 1960 to 1966 on ABC. One Million Years BC is a 1966 (released in the United States in 1967 Adventure film / Fantasy film starring Raquel Welch

Other depictions of the Stone Age include the best-selling Earth's Children series of books by Jean M. Auel, which are set in the Palaeolithic and are loosely based on archaeological and anthropological findings. Earth's Children is a series of Historical fiction novels written by Jean M Jean Marie Auel (dʒiːn mɘˈɹiː aʊl née Untinen (born February 18, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American and The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of The 1981 film Quest for Fire by Jean-Jacques Annaud tells the story of a group of humans searching for their lost fire. Quest for Fire (La Guerre du feu is a 1911 French Novel by J-H Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French Film director.

The phrase "bomb them back into the Stone Age", was made by then Chief of Staff, US Air Force General Curtis E. Lemay, when in 1965, he made the statement towards the North Vietnamese, during the Vietnam War; "They've got to draw in their horns and stop their aggression, or we're going to bomb them back into the stone age. Curtis Emerson LeMay (15 November 1906–3 October 1990 was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia " The gist of that statement implied a fierce aerial attack that would have utterly destroyed its target's infrastructure, forcing its survivors to revert to primitive technology in order to survive. Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids

See also

• Human evolution
• Lithic reduction
• Megalith
• Prehistoric music
• Prehistoric warfare
• Stone age diet (also know as the Paleolithic diet, it is a modern diet that seeks to replicate the dietary habits of Stone Age hunter-gatherers)
• Three-age system

Notes

• Scarre, Christopher (ed. Human evolution, or anthropogenesis, is the part of biological Evolution concerning the emergence of Homo sapiens as a distinct Species Lithic reduction involves the use of a hard hammer percussor such as a Hammerstone, a soft hammer fabricator (made of Wood, Bone or Antler) In the History of music, prehistoric music (previously called primitive music) is all Music produced in preliterate cultures ( Prehistory Prehistoric warfare is War conducted in the era before Writing, and before the establishments of large social entities like States Historical warfare sets The dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet) also popularly called the caveman diet, The dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet) also popularly called the caveman diet, The three-age system refers to the Periodization of Human Prehistory into three consecutive Time periods named for their respective ) (1988). Past Worlds: The Times Atlas of Archaeology. London: Times Books. ISBN 0-7230-0306-8.  
• Schick, Kathy D. ; Nicholas Toth (1993). Making Silent Stones Speak: Human Evolution and the Dawn of Technology. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-69371-9.  

References

External links

• The Stone Age
• Stone Age Handaxes
• Stone Age Habitats