The Paleolithic Age

Chapter 1 – Section 1

The Paleolithic Age

• Term used to designate the early period of human history – 2.5 million – 10,000 BC

• Time period when humans began to use “stone tools”

• Sometimes called the Old Stone Age

Hunting and Gathering

• Early humans sustained themselves through hunting and gathering

• Wild nuts, berries, fruits, wild grains, and green plants were gathered

• Buffalo, horses, bison, and reindeer were hunted

• Early man had a close relationship with their environment

Stone Tools

• Early man used hard stones, such as flint, to make tools

• Hand axes were most common

• Later tools included spears, bow and arrow used to hunt

• Harpoons and fish hooks made of bone were used to fish

Gender Roles

• Women stayed closer to camp to care for family

• Women also gather wild nuts and berries

• Men were relied upon to hunt and would sometimes be gone days at a time

Use of Fire

• The ability to make fire occurred around 500,000 years ago

• Fire provided warmth, kept wild animals away, and cooked food

• Fire could also be used to harden tools

Creating Art

• Early man created art to record the events of their daily lives

• Early artists painted with twigs or used their fingers in caves

• Some think the work was done to bring about good fortune in the hunts