Early Human and Prehistoric Cultures

The Stone Age is traditionally divided into three distinct phases based on the development of tool technology: the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages.

The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic or Palæolithic  also called the Old Stone Age, is a period in human prehistory distinguished by the original development of stone toold that covers 99% of the time period of human technological prehistory. It extends from the earliest known use of stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago, to the end of the pleistocene.

The period from 12,000 years to around 10,000 years is called the Middle Stone Age. The implements of this period are generally very small and hence they are called delicate stone implements. Man used to fashion handles from delicate stone for weapons made from bone and wood. He used those implements as axes and saws. These types of tools are also known as micro wears. 

The Paleolithic lasted from 2.6 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. The word Palaeolithic derives from the Greek: palaios (old) and lithikos (relating to or composed of stone), means 'old age of the stone'. It can be divided into three stages: Early (lower) Paleolithic age, Middle Paleolithic age and Late ( upper) Paleolithic age.

The Paleolithic lasted from 2.6 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. The word Palaeolithic derives from the Greek: palaios (old) and lithikos (relating to or composed of stone), means 'old age of the stone'. It is also more generally associated with the cultures and lifestyles of the hunter-gatherers who produced stone tools.

Mesolithic Age was a ancient cultural stage that existed between the Paleolithic Period with its chipped stone tools, and the Neolithic Period with its polished stone tools. It is also called Microlithic age as the tools used were chipped stone tools also known as microliths.

Mesolithic Age was a ancient cultural stage that existed between the Paleolithic Period with its chipped stone tools, and the Neolithic Period with its polished stone tools. The Mesolithic hunter was able to exploit a wider range of animal and vegetable food sources as compared to Palaeolithic one. It was also the final period of hunter-gatherer cultures in Europe.

The Old Stone Age developed in the Pleistocene Age.  The Old Stone Age or the Palaeolithic humans were also known as quartzite humans because they used a hard stone called quartzite to make their tools. There are three categories of stone tools; Core tools, used for pounding and crushing , Flake tools, designed for scraping and slitting and Blade tools , used for slicing and engraving. The Old Stone humans used tools made of wood and bone also. But it is the stone tools which have survived.

The Mesolithic Age was a transitional phase between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. It had the characteristics of both the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. The people of this age lived on hunting, fishing, and food gathering while at a later stage they also domesticated animals. The bow and arrow, invented either late in the Paleolithic period or in the Mesolithic period, served hunters and fighters until the firearm took its place. Probably during Mesolithic times, wild dogs, such as jackals, attached themselves to human settlements.

The Neolithic Age saw the man turning into food producer from food gatherer. It also witnessed the use of pottery for the first time. People used microlithic blades in addition to tools made of polished stone. The use of metal was unknown.

The term Neolithic Period refers to the last stage of the Stone Age extending from 4000 BC to 2500 BC. Man began to cultivate which is suggested by archaeological evidence across Asia and Europe. Settled villages had been firmly achieved in the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys and spread towards Indus valley in India.

The term Neolithic Period refers to the last stage of the Stone Age extending from 4000 BC to 2500 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that the transition from food-collecting cultures to food-producing ones. Man began to cultivate which is suggested by archaeological evidences across Asia and Europe.

Hunsgi is a town in the Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district in Karnataka. A number of early Palaeolithic sites were found here. At some sites, a large number of tools, used for all sorts of activities, were found. These were probably habitation-cum factory sites. In some of the other, smaller sites, there is evidence to suggest that tools were made. Some of the sites were close to springs. Most tools were made from limestone, which was locally available.

The Lower Paleolithic Period is the earliest of the Stone Age and is identified by the first usage of stone tools. It extends from 500000 BC to 50000 BC. The Lower Paleolithic Period was probably the time when humans first discovered and used fire.