Paleolithic

Also known as Palaeolithic, Palaeolithic Age, Palaeolithic Era, Palaeolithic Period, Paleolithic Age, Paleolithic Period, Paleolithic Era

thumb|Hunting a Glyptodon. Painting by [[Heinrich Harder .]] thumb|The oldest known figurative painting is a depiction of a bull that was discovered in the Lubang Jeriji Saléh cave in [[Indonesia. It was painted 40,000–52,000 years ago or earlier.]]

AI overview

The Paleolithic was the earliest period of human history, lasting from the emergence of our species until around 10,000 years ago, when people survived by hunting animals and gathering wild plants. It matters because it represents the foundation of human culture and creativity, as evidenced by remarkable achievements like the oldest known figurative paintings created 40,000–52,000 years ago in Indonesia.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

~52 min read

Encyclopedic overview

17 sections

Contents

Etymology
Paleogeography and climate
Paleolithic people
Homo erectus
Technology and crafts
Tools
Fire use
Rafts
Advanced tools
Other inventions
Social organization
Sculpture and painting
Music
Religion and beliefs
See also
References
External links

The Paleolithic ( ) or Old Stone Age is a period in human prehistory distinguished by the original development of stone tools. It represents almost the entire period of human prehistoric technology, extending from the earliest known use of stone tools by hominins,  3.3 million years ago, to the end of the Pleistocene,  11,650 cal BP.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Paleolithic” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.