STONE AGE: PERIODS, CHARACTERISTICS, TOOLS, WEAPONS - HISTORY - 2025

The Stone Age, also known as the Lithic Stage, was the first period into which Prehistory was divided to facilitate its study. Its main characteristic was the use of tools made with stones by the first human beings. Another remarkable aspect was that hominids evolved until modern man appeared.

The Stone Age concept was created in the late 19th century by Christian J. Thomsen, a Danish historian. This scholar was the inventor of the so-called System of the Three Ages, a division of human prehistory based on technological advances. This division established three different stages: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.

Map of Europe during the Neolithic Age - Source: José manuel benito Álvarez released into the public domain by its author, Locutus Borg

On the other hand, the Stone Age is also subdivided into three different periods. These are the Paleolithic (Old Stone), the Mesolithic (Between Stones) and the Neolithic (New Stone).

The most accepted time frame marks its beginning 2.8 million years ago, when man made his first tool. The end came in 3000 BC, when the Age of Metals gave way. This chronology, being based on the use of tools, presents quite a few differences depending on the part of the planet.

Periods

The event that determined the beginning of the Stone Age was the development of the first tools by humans. The raw material was precisely what gives its name to the period: stone.

It is a very extensive stage, although the date of its completion depends a lot on the development that human beings have reached in each area of ​​the planet. Thus, when in Rome or Egypt they had already passed to the next period, the Bronze Age, in Great Britain they were still living immersed in the Stone Age.

In other areas, humans never began to work with metals, so, according to the theory, they did not leave the Stone Age until they came into contact with more technologically advanced cultures.

The current consensus indicates that the Stone Age began about 2.8 million years ago, on the African continent, when man created the first utensils. This period is divided between the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, which in turn have their own temporal subdivisions.

At the end of the Neolithic, the human being entered the Age of Metals, more specifically in the Bronze Age.

-Paleolithic

Paleolithic bones and tools. Source: Harrygouvas at Greek Wikipedia

The first phase in which the Stone Age is divided is called Paleolithic (Ancient Stone). Its beginning is approximately 2,800,000 years ago, when human beings began to make stone tools in Africa.

To make these utensils, the various types of hominids carved the stone to try to give it the shape they considered most suitable for each function.

The human being of this time was a hunter-gatherer, although given the great length of the period, these activities went through various stages. On the other hand, they led a nomadic lifestyle, settling for short periods of time in areas near rivers.

One of the most important events of this period was the discovery of fire, something that affected human life in all aspects.

The Paleolithic has been divided into three different parts: the Lower, the Middle and the Upper.

Paleolithic stages

The first stage of the Paleolithic has been baptized as the Lower Paleolithic. Within the temporal division, it is the longest period, since it lasted until approximately 100,000 BC.

The cold climate, in the middle of the ice age, caused the first humans to seek refuge in caves in order to survive. The basis of their diet was gathering, although at the end of this stage they began to hunt more assiduously.

On the other hand, during the Lower Paleolithic the human being was evolving. The appearance of Homo habilis brought hominids closer to modern man, something that was accentuated with Homo erectus.

This period gave way to the Middle Paleolithic. This stage was shorter and ended around 35000 BC. Human beings continued with their evolution, both physical and mental. One of the milestones in this regard was the appearance of the Neardental Man, with a cranial capacity similar to that of Homo sapiens.

The last stage of this period was the Upper Paleolithic, with a duration of about 20,000 years. It is then that Homo sapiens sapiens appeared, whose greater intelligence allowed him to improve the manufacture of tools and tools for hunting and fishing.

-Mesolithic

Mesolithic arrowheads. Source: Ismoon (talk) 08:55, 22 September 2017 (UTC)

Around 10,000 BC, the Paleolithic gave way to the next Stone Age period: the Mesolithic (Between Stones). This new stage would only last 5000 years, but the climate change that began to occur makes it very important for the development of the human species.

In this way, the glaciations that had characterized the previous period begin to subside. The climate is becoming more stable and the human being can begin to leave the caves to settle in the open air, although without abandoning nomadism.

This change in climate also caused vegetation to increase in much of the world and new plant foods appeared that humans could take advantage of.

Although many large animals had become extinct, humans found it easier to hunt smaller prey. The improvement in the manufacture of the weapons also helped in this regard. Likewise, the new tools allowed fishing to become more important.

Mesolithic stages

Like the Paleolithic, the Mesolithic has also been divided into various stages by historians.

The first is called Epipaleolithic, that is, "after the Paleolithic." For its part, the second phase is called Protoneolithic, "before the Neolithic".

-Neolithic

Pottery from the Neolithic period. Source: Gary Todd

The Neolithic (New Stone) was the last stage of the Stone Age. Although its duration was not excessive, the importance of the events that occurred in it have led to talk of a "Neolithic revolution."

It was during this period that the human being abandoned nomadism to become sedentary. This was prompted by the discovery of agriculture and livestock, which allowed the different groups not to have to leave their settlements to seek resources.

Another factor that contributed to the changes in the behavior of the human species was the increasing moderation of the climate. The disappearance of the glacial cold allowed human beings to settle outside without problems, in addition to the benefit it had for crops.

On the other hand, the name of this period comes from a new way of working with stones. From this moment, the human being begins to polish this material, which allows him to develop new and better tools.

Neolithic stages

The Neolithic was made up of three different stages: the Initial, from 6000 BC to 3500 BC, the Middle, between 3000 BC and 2800 BC and the Final, which lasted until 2300 BC

After this stage, the human being began a new historical period: the Age of Metals.

characteristics

Representation of the way of life in the Stone Age

Many anthropologists consider the Stone Age as the most important stage of Prehistory, ahead of the Metals.

This is due to the great transformations suffered by the human being in all areas. To begin with, hominids evolved until the appearance of Homo sapiens, which came to dominate the planet.

Furthermore, advances in tool-making, the discovery of how to control fire, and the emergence of agriculture were factors that totally changed the way of life of the first humans.

Human evolution

Source: Human_evolution_scheme.svg: M. Gardederivative work: Gerbil

As noted, the evolution of the human being, both physical and intellectual, was the main characteristic of this period. A good example is the increase in cranial capacity from Homo habilis to Homo sapiens.

The most important steps in this evolutionary process began with the appearance of Homo habilis. This species of hominid already knew how to handle stone tools. Although they were not hunters, they did take advantage of the remains of dead animals.

The second big step occurred with the arrival of Homo erectus. The cranial capacity increased significantly, but his physical appearance had important differences from that of modern man. Instead, it was the first hominid to walk upright.

Neanderthal Man, although he ended up becoming extinct for unknown reasons, represented another important step in evolution. His cranial capacity was similar to that of modern man, although it is unknown if he was able to speak.

Finally, during the Middle Paleolithic, Homo sapiens sapiens appeared. In addition to increased mental and physical abilities, it differed from previous types of hominids by its emotional intelligence.

Social organization

Representation of Lazaret cave settlement in Nice. Source: Locutus Borg

The human groups that formed at the beginning of the Stone Age had a very simple internal organization. Although a dominant figure probably existed, there was neither a hierarchical structure nor a division of labor.

These groups were nomads and moved from one place to another in search of resources. This nomadism was one of the factors that led to the expansion of the human being throughout the planet, especially when the climate began to be more benign.

As the Stone Age advanced and the time improved, the human groups were expanding when several of them joined. Thus began a new form of social organization, with tribal features.

With agriculture and sedentary lifestyles, already in the Neolithic, the concept of private property appeared. Some individuals began to accumulate more assets, which resulted in them acquiring more economic and political power.

Feeding

Representation of men hunting in the Paleolithic. Source:

Source:

At the beginning of the Paleolithic, the first stage of the Stone Age, the existing population was mainly gatherers. The only consumption of meat came from the dead or diseased animals that were around them.

Over time, these groups began to improve their capacities and adapted to the environment more effectively. Their main foods were the fruits, roots and seeds that they were collecting.

It was Homo erectus who started hunting, although it seems that it was still a secondary activity. The following types of hominids were improving hunting techniques and the human being became a hunter-gatherer.

In addition, a discovery greatly changed the way these groups ate: fire. Once they managed to control it, they were able to start cooking the food, which meant better absorption of nutrients and that the food stayed in good condition for longer.

With Homo sapiens as the dominant genus, hunting and gathering techniques were greatly improved. One of the most important factors was the manufacture of more effective weapons, which allowed to capture more pieces.

Finally, the human being discovered agriculture and livestock. Hunting, although still important, was no longer essential for survival and therefore the various groups could settle in fixed places and wait to harvest the crops.

Economy

The post-Paleolithic economy was based on sowing and animal husbandry. Source: mo.nrcs.usda.gov

As has been pointed out, the human being of the Paleolithic based their entire economy on gathering and, from a certain point on, on hunting. It was a way of life that only sought subsistence, without there being any other type of economic activity.

The evolution of human beings and climate change caused a great change that began to be noticed in the Mesolithic. The emergence of agriculture and livestock gave way to a new social and economic system.

Both activities caused surpluses to begin to be produced. This, together with the manufacture of more advanced utensils, led to the appearance, for the first time, of trade, which worked through barter.

On the other hand, these new circumstances led to the appearance of a hitherto unknown concept. If previous humans shared all resources, when these began to be more abundant, private property arose.

In turn, with private property the first social classes appeared. Those who possessed the most also monopolized political power, with which society moved towards a more pyramidal organization.

Tools

Paleolithic cutting tools. Source: Jonathan Cardy

As the name of this part of Prehistory indicates, the main raw material for the manufacture of tools was stone. Among them, the use of flint stood out, since it was easy to carve and presented a resistance that made it very useful for hunting and other activities.

Among the utensils made with this material, the ax, hammers, bifaces, throwing points or Clovis points stood out.

The next step in tool-making came when humans learned to polish it. With this new technique he was able to improve the quality of the utensils and began to make sickles, hoes and other tools for agriculture.

Besides stone, the first humans also used other materials. The bone was widely used to make weapons and the incorporation of wooden handles made it possible to improve them by being able to hold them better.

Art

Cave painting. Source:

The best known artistic manifestation of the Stone Age was cave painting. Many of them were made inside the caves, using the walls as canvas. Hunting scenes were the most common theme, followed by the representation of everyday life.

Apart from this, human beings also dedicated themselves to making figures dedicated to fertility. These figurines representing women seem to be closely linked to the religious beliefs of their authors.

With the passage of time, humans began to make objects with a purely ornamental function. Many utensils were adorned with paintings and carvings, which was also a way to personalize them when private property was born.

Architecture

Paleolithic temporary hut. Source: Locutus Borg

During the early Paleolithic periods it is not possible to speak of the existence of any type of architecture. The human being had to live inside the caves and the few outer settlements that he built were very simple: a few branches and a few animal skins were enough to build their huts.

It was not until the human being abandoned nomadism that he began to worry about improving his accommodations. By inhabiting fixed settlements, he had to build houses that ensured his safety and were durable.

The first materials used to build the houses were adobe and branches. Over time, humans began to incorporate stones to strengthen the structure of the houses.

Religious beliefs

Paleolithic Venus. Source: User: MatthiasKabel

Many authors consider that the religious fact was born just at the same time as the human being. According to many theories, based on the remains found, religious beliefs in the Paleolithic were animistic. Given the importance of hunting, humans gave animals a totemic meaning.

With the intellectual evolution of the human being and with the appearance of agriculture, the object of worship changed. From that moment, people began to believe in the Mother Goddess, responsible for the fertility of the earth.

Likewise, Neolithic human beings worshiped everything related to nature, from the sun to the rivers. In this sense, it can be said that they did not abandon animism.

Neolithic revolution

The area of ​​the fertile crescent, origin of the Neolithic Revolution. Source: Map of fertile cresent.svg: Nafsadhderivative work Rowanwindwhistler

As has been verified in all the previous points, the passage from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic represented changes in all areas of the life of the first humans. For this reason, many anthropologists have created the concept "Neolithic revolution" to describe the magnitude of these transformations.

The end of the ice ages allowed humans to change their way of life. Her former existence as a nomadic gatherer and hunter began to be abandoned. Instead, the existing clans began to cultivate the land and domesticate animals, which meant that they could afford to settle in fixed places instead of wandering in search of resources.

Another important factor was the discovery of the polishing technique to make the tools. These ceased to be as rough as in the past and became essential for working the land.

The new type of society (sedentary, agricultural and with surpluses) had to organize itself in a more complex way. Private property, the division of labor and the exchange of goods appeared, with which also emerged, for the first time, a social class characterized by having more resources.

Tools and inventions

A variety of tools made from mussel shells.

Although it cannot be considered an invention in itself, learning how to light, control and conserve fire was one of the most important events in the history of the human species.

However, the first humans of the Stone Age also invented many other key tools for civilization to advance. Among these, the axes, hammers, bifaces and other tools that allowed them to survive.

All these instruments were essential for humans to improve their hunting techniques, first, and fishing, later. Over time, they also developed tools that helped them develop agriculture and become sedentary societies.

Tools and other creations with stone

Paleolithic tools. Source: Zde

The main protagonist of this period was undoubtedly the stone. The excavations that have been carried out throughout the planet have shown the enormous variety of tools made with this material that presented several obvious advantages: the ease of obtaining it, its quantity and the ease of being carved and polished.

In this way, the Stone Age, as its name suggests, was characterized by the establishment of a kind of lithic industry. Like human beings, this industry evolved over time, from the roughly hewn stones of the Paleolithic to the carefully polished ones of the Neolithic.

The fire

Paleolithic hut and campfire representation. Source: Locutus Borg

Although it is impossible to give an exact date, researchers who have studied the archaeological remains claim that the first type of hominid to use fire was Homo erectus, about 1,600,000 years ago. At that time, however, they did not know how to turn it on.

According to anthropologists, they most likely took advantage of any fires that occurred to obtain fire, such as a lightning strike during a storm. After this, they had to take care of it so that it lasted as long as possible on and even transport it from one place to another.

Later on, humans found techniques to light fires on their own. The most basic was to rub a stick with dry wood until the first sparks were produced.

Its first use was to heat the interior of the caves, something essential at a time when ice ages were happening. On the other hand, they began to use it to cook meat, which significantly improved their diet. Lastly, it was also a good system to defend against predators.

The wheel

Source: Thamizhpparithi Maari

Along with the discovery of fire, the invention of the wheel was one of the most important in the entire Stone Age. No evidence has been found to confirm when and how it began to be used, although most experts agree that it must have been in the Neolithic.

At first, the wheel was not used for anything related to transportation. It was one more component of the tools made for pottery or agriculture. The earliest examples were simply a stone disc with a hole in the middle.

The mill

Manual mill. Source: Tropenmuseum, part of the National Museum of World Cultures

The advent of agriculture made it necessary for humans to create new tools to get the most out of crops. One of the most important inventions was the mill.

The former were very simple, made of wood and operated manually. They were intended to grind wheat and cereals.

Clothes

Paleolithic Leather Fragments

Source: The Portable Antiquities Scheme / The Trustees of the British Museum

The characteristic cold of the Paleolithic forced human beings to cover themselves. The first garments were simply animal skins. Later, leather and even leaves were added.

Over the years, clothing has evolved, as well as the tools used to make it. The loom, for example, appeared in the Neolithic Age, which made it possible to manufacture more complex clothing and other materials.

Lamp

Source: Tyk

As has been discovered in some sites, the first lamps could appear during the Neolithic. They were made of stone, to which a liquid that burned on contact with fire was added. To be able to transport them, a handle made of wood was added.

Weapons

Different weapons of the Paleolithic. Source: Лапоть

The struggle for the survival of human beings during the Stone Age, especially in its early periods, was very hard. To increase their chances, they very soon began to develop tools that would help them protect themselves from predator attacks. Likewise, they had to invent tools that would facilitate the hunting of their prey.

According to experts, during this period of human history the concept of war did not exist. The population density during the Paleolithic was very low and there was no struggle for natural resources. For that reason, the first weapons invented were not intended to be used against other humans.

The weapons of this period were made of stone. Among them, the ax, the spear and, later, the bow and arrow stood out.

Weapons in the Paleolithic

Weapons in the Neolithic. Source: Popular Science Monthly Volume 21

The first humans carved the stone to create their first weapons. During the Paleolithic era, with less efficient carving techniques, the most numerous weapons were hand axes, biface and some cutting or penetrating tools.

Flint was the most widely used material to make these weapons, although some made with deer antlers or bones have also been found.

When Homo erectus learned to handle fire, one of the uses it gave it was to harden the tips of the branches that they had sharpened in order to create spears. Later, they attached tips made of flint to those sticks.

Weapons in the Neolithic

Neolithic tools. Source: Gary Todd

Neolithic man learned to polish stone, which allowed him to reduce the size of the flint points. Thanks to this, they were able to adapt them to hilts made of wood or bone and build more effective weapons.

An important novelty of this time were the arches, made with tendons. The arrows were made with stones carved into the desired shape. Likewise, some arrows made of bone have also been found.

The ax

Neolithic ax. Source: Muséum de Toulouse

The ax, either hand-held or with a hilt, was one of the most widely used weapons by humans in the Stone Age. One of its advantages was its versatility of use, since it could be used both to cut all kinds of material, and to kill animals. It was also an easy tool to transport and very simple to use.

To make it, you only had to sharpen a stone to give it a shape similar to that of an arrow. The first were handheld, without a handle. Later, a piece of wood was added to be able to hold it and make it even easier to use.

Spear

Polished spear smears. Source: Calame

The spear represented a great advantage when hunting. Thanks to its greater reach, humans did not have to get so close to animals, which made the activity much less dangerous.

The former were, simply, wooden sticks sharpened and hardened by the application of a flame. Later, a sharpened stone point was incorporated, greatly increasing its effectiveness.

Club

Source: Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-31)

The simplicity of its manufacture and its ease of use made the club one of the most used weapons throughout prehistory. To get one, it was only necessary to cut a heavy and sturdy branch from a tree.

However, this type of weapon presented a significant disadvantage. To use it in hunting parties, its owner had to approach the prey in order to hit it. This caused the animal to be able to defend itself from its attacker.

Bow and arrow

Neolithic arrowheads. Source: Muséum de Toulouse

The bow and arrow were the most advanced weapon among those that mankind invented during the Stone Age. It was an invention that reached the end of the Neolithic, just before the Metal Age began.

Its main advantage was its range, greater even than that of spears. Thanks to its use, humans could hunt at a much greater distance and, although it was more complicated to handle, it was a very important advance.

Already in the Metal Age, the tips of arrows, originally made of stone, began to be made with iron, improving their effectiveness.

References

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