LITHIC STAGE: CHARACTERISTICS AND PERIODS - HISTORY - 2025

The Lithic Stage is one of the periods in which the history of human development is organized. This stage refers to the first human groups that were organized in the American territory and that used stone as a material to make tools and other instruments.

In this sense, the Lithic Stage converges with the Stone Age. However, it differs from this because the scope of the Lithic Stage is more restricted (it only refers to America).

The term was coined by Gordon Willey and Phillip Phillips in 1958, to refer to the archaeological remains found in America belonging to the Stone Age. This stage is also called the Paleoamerican period.

The Lithic Stage is divided into three periods: the Proto-Indian, the Paleo-Indian, and the Meso-Indian. The Proto-Indian begins with the arrival of the first human beings to North America and culminates in the year 20,000 BC

The Paleoindian begins in the year 20,000 BC and extends until 8000 BC. Finally, the Mesoindian begins in the year 8000 BC (with the end of the thaw) and ends in the year 1000 BC. C.

Arrowheads typical of the Lithic Stage (specifically the Paleoindian period). Photo recovered from gastrosoler.com.

Different periods of the Lithic Stage

Proto-Indian period

The Proto-Indian is the first period in the history of humanity in the territory of the American continent. This begins with the arrival of human beings in North America.

However, it is not known for sure in which year the continent was populated.

Studies show that during the last ice age, "bridges" were created between different points on Earth. One of these was the Bering Strait Bridge (between America and Asia).

This bridge was created twice: the first time was in the year 40,000 BC and the second time was in the year 25,000 BC. On these two occasions, the settlement of America could have occurred.

During the Proto-Indian period, the new settlers adapted to the conditions of the North American territory. In addition, they organized themselves into small nomadic groups destined for hunting and gathering.

As time passed, the groups began to move south, in search of other food.

In the early Proto-Indian years, tools were made of bone and wood. Little by little, the use of stone was included to create more resistant tools.

Hammers, knives and axes were created in stone, which have been recovered from excavations in the United States, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

It should be noted that the industry concerning the stone was very archaic, the material was only roughly carved.

The Proto-Indian period ends in 20,000 BC, when stone work began to be perfected. In this way, the Paleoindian period begins.

Paleoindian period

The Paleoindian period begins in the year 20,000 BC. At the beginning of this period, human beings had already settled in Central America (what is known as Mesoamerica) and in many areas of South America.

The stone industry was much more sophisticated than that of the Proto-Indian. In fact, this is the most representative period of the Lithic Stage for this reason.

During the Paleoindian, the stone was worked in a more conscious way, the carving of this material was improved and the shapes of the tools produced were played with.

Some of the objects that were produced at this time were arrowheads with lanceolate shapes, fishtail and with serrated edges.

Also, javelins were created, which were used by hunters to catch prey from a distance. In addition to this, the atlatl was invented, which facilitated the launch of lances.

At the end of the Paleoindian, the last ice age ends (the Wisconsin ice age), which generates climatic changes that modify the way of life of primitive humans. By 8000 BC, the Paleoindian period ends.

Mesoindian period

The Mesoinidian period begins in 8000 BC due to the thaw, abrupt changes were generated, such as the extinction of large mammals and changes in the terrain of the continent.

This last change allowed agriculture to develop. The practice of this activity represented an important change because humans went from being nomadic to sedentary. Likewise, they began to practice livestock.

The fact that humans did not have to worry about obtaining food made it possible for them to organize themselves into civilizations, work with available materials to create technological advances and other innovations, dedicate themselves to the study of medicine, astronomy, mathematics and others. disciplines.

Other divisions of the Lithic Stage

Other historians divide the Lithic Stage into archaeological, cenolithic and protoneolithic.

- Archeolithic

The Archeolithic began in the year 30,000 BC During this period, human groups were nomads and lived by fishing, hunting and gathering. There are no remains to show that the stone was worked during this period.

- Cenolithic

This period is divided into two sub-periods: the lower cenolithic and the upper cenolithic.

Lower Cenolithic

The lower cenolithic begins in the year 9500 BC During this period there are significant climatic changes.

These changes allowed agricultural activities to develop. Added to this, there are samples that the stone was worked in the lower cenolithic.

Upper Cenolithic

The upper cenolithic begins in 7000 BC, when the large mammals became extinct.

This caused that the human being had to change his customs and happened to use smaller beasts in his daily activities.

- Protoneolytic

The Protoneolithic period begins in the year 5000 BC In this period, agriculture developed, which contributed to a sedentary lifestyle.

Likewise, the techniques for working with stone were perfected, specialized instruments were created for various activities, and studies were carried out in different areas of knowledge. The Protoneolithic culminated in 2500 BC

References

1. Lithic Stage. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from wikipedia.org.
2. Paleo-Indies. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from wikipedia.org.
3. Paleo-Indian Period. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from nichbelize.org.
4. Paleoindian Period. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from encyclopediaofarkansas.net.
5. Paleoindian Period: Overview. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from georgiaencyclopedia.org.
6. Stone Age. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from ancient.eu.
7. The Stone Age. Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from history-world.org.