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The Stone Age Period

The Stone Age: Definition and Overview
The Stone Age refers to the prehistoric period when humans made tools and weapons with stone and organic materials such as bone, horn, and wood. These humans were called Homo Habilis which means tool makers. The first human tool was the handaxe, but they gradually made progress and started using fire and making better tools. Tool development continued as they created different variations of stone tools, such as pebble tools, blade tools, and flake tools. They made numerous discoveries, including pottery, art, agriculture, and shelters.

Fossil evidence proves that during this age, humans shared the earth with other species that are now extinct. Some of these species are called the Denisovans and Neanderthals. Therefore, the significance of this period is that it marks a stage of advancement and creativity that led us to further growth and upgrading. It shows the path of humans civilization towards developing, understanding, and building knowledge.

Characteristics of Pre-Civilization During the Stone Age
The pre-civilization Stone Age marks the evolution of human culture and awareness. It displays behavioral traditions, social interactions, cultural evolution, and early technological advancement. The specific characteristics that define this period are:


 * Tools - The name for the Stone Age era rises from the simplest stone tools that people during this period left behind. Oldowan toolkit is the name given to the earliest stone tools by archaeologists. The earliest stone tool was the hammerstones, used by prehistoric humans to chip other stones, make sharp weapons, and break and grind hard-shelled nuts and seeds. Some tools were also made of ivory, bone, and horn. Different groups used materials to make different varieties and shapes of tools causing the emergence of recognizable cultural identities. Some examples were harpoon points, ivory needles, hand axes, flake tools, and so on. These were used for hunting, fishing, carving, fighting, building, and many other activities.
 * Rock paintings - Rock art was the main form of prehistoric art. There were two kinds of art; petroglyphs and pictographs. Petroglyphs were the paintings and engravings discovered in the caves during this period. The pictographs were markings of geometric shapes, handprints, hand stencils, and painted or drawn signs. Rock paintings were found on any type of rock surface, such as cliff faces, rock shelters, and caves. The paint was usually made from charcoal or dirt mixed with animal fat or spit.
 * Shelter - Shelters in caves and houses made of rock, wood, and straw are some examples of stone age dwellings. The shelters were usually round and had beds and chairs made of rocks. It also had a hearth for fire at the center. The prehistoric people would search for a safe location for protection from predators and rivals.
 * Religion - The prehistoric people were animalists, meaning they believed that all elements, like mountains, animals, forests, rivers, and stones, had a spirit. Also, prehistoric people worshipped their ancestors and believed in the concept of the afterlife. People engaged in shamanism, which is the manipulation and communication with the spirits usually for protection. Scholars also believe that sacrifices were made as offerings to the dead ancestors.

When Was the Stone Age?
The Stone Age began at about 30,000 BCE and continued until 3,000 BCE. However, some scholars claim that the period began some 2.6 million years ago, based on the earliest evidence of humans using stone tools.

When Did the Stone Age Start?
Scholars claim that humans were not the first to make and use stone tools. Instead, they believe that stone tools were created by a species native to Kenya which lived on the shores of Lake Turkana some 3.3 million years ago. These species used stone tools some 700,000 years ago before the emergence of the Homo genus. Moreover, it was believed by experts that stone tools were developed and used even earlier by modern apes.

When Did the Stone Age End?
The Stone Age ended in 2000BC, around 5000 years ago, when humans transitioned from stone tools to metalwork. The end of this period is marked by the fading usage of stone, when humans began to make tools out of bronze Scholars evidence that the Stone Age was followed by the Bronze Age with the development of metallurgy, signifying the end of this age.

Major Divisions of the Stone Age Period
The Stone Age is divided into three periods: the Paleolithic period, the Mesolithic period, and the Neolithic period. Paleolithic means old, Mesolithic means middle, and Neolithic means new.

These three parts demonstrate the advancement in human civilization between the periods. Each division has its specific characteristics. It starts with the Paleolithic period, when the tools were simple, and ends with the Neolithic period when the tools were more complex.

What is the Old Stone Age?
The Old Stone Age, or the Paleolithic period, begins when humans started to use stone and continues until the end of the Ice Age. It started 2.5 million years ago and continued until 10,000 BCE., making it the longest of the periods. During this period, stone tools were extensively used for every task. Stones were used for chipping other stones to make them sharp and pointy, to carve and engrave, and so on. Humans were hunters and food gatherers. To make a living, they hunted wild animals and birds, caught fish, and gathered berries, wild fruits, and nuts.