Have you ever wondered when the first time we “humans” started wearing clothes, innovated language, learned agriculture to grow crops, or domesticated animals was? All these secrets of humanity are disclosed during a certain period of human culture- The Stone Age.
Yes, a significant era existed around 3.3 million years ago! Historically, the Stone Age may be defined as the period during which stone was used extensively for making tools, weapons, utensils, artifacts, and much more.
Facts about the Stone Age
Don’t know much about it and want to explore it more? We are here for you. Buckle up! We are going to present to you the top 10 facts about the Stone Age:
1. Based on the Three-Age System
The three-age system represents three ages – Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Among the three of these, the Stone Age is the oldest. This is supported by the fact that a Pliocene hominin fossil was discovered in Kenya in 1999 at around 3.5 million years old.
2. Consists of Three periods
The Stone Age itself is composed of three distinct periods, these are:
- The Paleolithic Period
The Palaeolithic period lasted about 2.6 to 1 million years ago, marking the earliest period of the Stone Age. In this age, the Stone Age people used stone tools by knapping stones. Artifacts, such as engraving tools, blades, and other drilling tools, were also used during this period.
During this period, the hominins also formed small groups or societies for hunting, scavenging, searching for plants, etc.
- The Mesolithic Period
The Mesolithic Period, also known as the Epipaleolithic or the Middle Stone Age, lasted from around 9000 B.C to 4000 B.C, starting after the last ice age ended.
This period traces the development of microliths– small stone tools generally triangular or trapezoid in shape and used as arrowheads, jewelry, and spear points.
- The Neolithic Period
The Neolithic period, or the New Stone Age, is described as the most vibrant and revolutionary period, also called the Neolithic Revolution. The Neolithic age started around 7000 BCE.
The period marks the shift of people from searching for food to producing food for themselves. People began to domesticize animals such as dogs, goats, and cattle.
Stone Age art was very prominent in the Neolithic age, and artworks such as figurines, statues, cave paintings, and artifacts in the form of bracelets, chisels, stone tools, etc., were also found in this period.
3. Four Different Types of Humans
You must have seen that chart showing humans evolved from animals like chimpanzees and gorillas. Yes, this one-
Though this transition shows a wide array of species constantly evolving from each of their predecessors, the four major species are:
- Homo habilis
The extinct group of human species, which were known as “handymen” or “tool makers,” are called Homo habilis. They are characterized by having a brain capacity of around 500 to 900 cubic cm, long, proportionate limbs adapted for climbing, and males larger than females.
The habilis species were known to be scavengers as they preferred scavenging over hunting to consume meat and created a stone stool classification system called the Oldowan stone tool industry.
- Homo erectus
As the name indicates, they were known as the “Upright Men” (as they have an upright erect posture) and hence were called Homo erectus.
Their average brain size was about 1000 cubic cm. They have similar limb proportions, and the males and females also showed similarities in size to each other and modern humans. That is why they are considered more “human-like” than modern humans.
They took a heavy meat diet due to their higher brain capacity and were probably the first to shift from scavenging to hunting. They hunted wild animals such as crocodiles, turtles, elephants, birds, rhinos, etc.
They also developed the Acheulean stone tool industry and were the first to use hand axes.
- Homo neanderthalensis
Known commonly as the Neanderthals, these species were present nearly 40000 years ago. They are also stated to be the subspecies of archaic humans native to Eurasia.
Their average brain capacity was 1640 cc, and their body was adapted to be “hyperactive” to survive in cold climates. They also possessed an elongated skull with a large jaw.
- Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens, or the early humans, are the human species representing us. Yes, homo sapiens are described to be selective, wise, and sensible- now you can relate, right? Homo sapiens have smaller teeth with a prominent chin and a brain capacity of 1400- 1500 cc.
Homo sapiens are involved in the development of expressive language, art, and religion, and hence they show behavioural modernity.
4. Stone Age People Discovered Fire!
Have you ever wondered who was the first to discover fire if we place aside all other myths? Well, scientists say that stone age humans domesticized the use of fire- “Homo erectus” species, to speak more precisely. The erectus species were also termed the “Fire Makers.”
They used fire as a medium for cooking food, as a source of heat to warm themselves, to protect themselves from wild predators (especially at night), and it is also possible they used fire as a light source to work the night or Maybe to dance and Celebrate! Who knows?
5. Developed Agriculture
The Neolithic period is the Stone Age period in which humans first learned about farming and developed the concept of agriculture. Stone Age humans began to domesticate cattle and dogs and use them for farming. They also developed many irrigation-stone tools and grew wild plants such as Wheat and barley.
The shift from meat as a prime dietary food source to switching toward plant sources may have several reasons, but a possible reason is the Holocene extinction event.
6. They Were Handymen
Yes, the Stone Age people mastered the skill of tool-making, mainly stone tools.
Some of the earliest known human tools were used by Stone Age people from the Oldowan stone tools, such as edgy stone flakes, hammerstones, anvils, etc.
The use of tools evolved with time and shifted from the Oldowan Industry to the Acheulean Industry, eventually reaching the Neolithic Industry of tools.
Numerous stone weapons, such as axeheads, chisels, use of arrowheads, etc, were found in the New Stone Age, along with wooden clubs and spears. It is very enthralling to take note of the fact that several physical pieces of evidence show numerous human skeletons being injured with injuries to the neck, ribs, head, and other body parts.
Not only did they make weapons, but they also carved beautiful home furniture such as shelves, cupboards, chairs, beds, etc. The Neolithic Orkney Village (Scara Brae) serves as a classic example of this fact.
7. Stone Age People—”The Veteran Artists”
Art expression in different mediums, such as paintings, statues, figurines, artifacts, and many other mediums, was prevalent during the Stone Age. Several cave paintings, beads, and figurines were predominant between the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
Paleolithic cave paintings in Kilvalai in Tamil Nadu and Yogimatha in Odisha show captivating prehistoric art expressions. The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters and wall paintings symbolize some of the earliest art forms.
Several carved stone balls were found at the Neolithic Orkney village. Several symbols in the form of writings, Walrus ivory, and even evidence of body paintings have been found on this site, and the Neolithic period also depicted artworks in the form of Pottery, sculptures, megaliths, and the formation of permanent Neolithic houses.
8. Stone Age Animals
Many Stone Age animals were used by the Stone Age people either as domesticized pets or to derive animal products for self-benefit.
Animals such as the great Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhino, Cave lion, Dire Wolf, Giant Ground Sloths, and the Smilodon (aka Sabre-toothed tiger) were present during the Stone Age but have gone extinct now.
However, there are still some other animals from the Stone Age which are present even today! Some examples include Komodo Dragon, Echidna, White Rhinoceros, and Horseshoe crab.
Stone Age people used animal bones to build their houses or huts. Huts made from the bones of Mammoths have been found in Siberia and Europe. Also, Animal hides were used to cover the roofs of these houses.
9. First Humans Who Started Wearing Clothes
People from the Stone Age felt the same urge to cover themselves with clothes to be protected from extreme weather conditions.
The use of animal skin by the Stone Age humans as a cloth to protect themselves from cold during winter was the first item of clothing for humans. During Summer, they probably would shift from animal skin to clothes made from leaves and grasses.
Women generally wore clothes woven from fibers of the flax plant. Towards the end of the Stone Age, people invented needles and thread, which helped them to make their clothes.
It is also believed that people rubbed charcoal all over their bodies to protect themselves from the thorns of poisonous plants, as charcoal acts as a natural antidote to most poisons.
10. Rituals and Beliefs
It is an indisputable fact that since the start of human history, Rituals have stood firm from that day to the present.
Religion in the Paleolithic period is shown with the help of symbolism and sculpture.
Key Takeaways
The Stone Age is the earliest period of human history, which existed million years ago, and is the earliest age of the three age system. The Stone Age period is divided into three sub-periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages.
Stone Age Humans are of four different types- Homo habilis, Homo erectus, the Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens. The Erectus species first discovered fire. Stone Age people were also the first to develop concepts of agriculture, clothing, and expression of art, and they also domesticated wild animals for farming or personal use. The ending of the Stone Age also marked the beginning of another critical age- the Bronze Age.
Last Updated on February 24, 2024 by Apeksha Soni
