Other meanings of Paleolithic
Archaeology
The Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age, is the earliest and longest period of human prehistory, spanning from the first use of stone tools around 3.3 million years ago to the end of the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. It is defined by the production of chipped stone tools and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, predating agriculture and permanent settlements. The period is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic, each marked by technological and cultural advances. The Paleolithic encompasses the entire biological and cultural evolution of the genus Homo, from early Homo habilis to modern Homo sapiens.
The Paleolithic is conventionally divided into three phases based on technological and cultural markers. The Lower Paleolithic (c. 2.6 million to 300,000 years ago) begins with the Oldowan industry, simple flaked pebbles, and includes the Acheulean handaxe tradition associated with Homo erectus. The Middle Paleolithic (c. 300,000 to 45,000 years ago) is marked by the Levallois technique and prepared-core flaking, primarily linked to Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens. The Upper Paleolithic (c. 45,000 to 10,000 years ago) saw blade-based tools, bone and antler implements, and the flourishing of symbolic art, including cave paintings and personal ornaments.1
Paleolithic peoples were nomadic or semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting, fishing, and foraging. They exploited a wide range of fauna, from megafauna like mammoths and bison to small game and shellfish, and gathered plant foods, nuts, and seeds. Evidence from sites such as Dolní Věstonice indicates sophisticated hunting strategies, including the use of traps and drives. Fire was controlled and used for cooking, warmth, and social gathering, which likely facilitated brain development and social bonding. Diet varied by region and season, with isotopic analyses revealing a high-protein intake in cold climates.
The Upper Paleolithic is renowned for its symbolic expression, including cave paintings, figurines, and musical instruments. The earliest known cave art, at El Castillo and Chauvet, dates to over 30,000 years ago, depicting animals and abstract signs. Venus figurines, such as the Venus of Willendorf, are among the earliest representations of the human form. Recent discoveries at Blombos Cave in South Africa, dating to about 75,000 years ago, include engraved ochre and shell beads, pushing symbolic behavior back into the Middle Paleolithic.2 These artifacts suggest complex cognitive abilities and social structures.
Beyond the well-known European record, the Paleolithic includes significant developments in Africa and Asia. The earliest stone tools, from Lomekwi 3 in Kenya, date to 3.3 million years ago, predating the genus Homo and possibly made by Kenyanthropus or Australopithecus.3 In Southeast Asia, the Hoabinhian industry (c. 12,000–3,000 BP) represents a distinct adaptation to tropical forests. The Paleolithic also saw the first seafaring, with evidence of hominins on islands like Flores (Homo floresiensis) and Crete. Additionally, the use of ochre as pigment dates back at least 300,000 years, and recent finds suggest Neanderthals made cave art in Spain before the arrival of modern humans.4
The Paleolithic is the longest phase of human history, but its boundaries are debated, with some scholars placing the start at the earliest stone tools and others at the first use of fire.
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