Stone Age

The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period defined by the widespread use of stone tools and technologies.

The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period defined by the widespread use of stone tools and technologies. It is usually divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods, and it ended at different times across regions as metalworking spread. As the earliest major stage in the traditional Three Age System, the Stone Age began with the oldest known stone tools about 3.3 million years ago.

Definition and scope

The Stone Age refers to prehistoric human cultures in which stone was the primary material for making tools and implements. Because it spans an enormous time range, historians and archaeologists use it as a broad technological label rather than a single uniform era.

Subdivisions

The Stone Age is usually divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. These divisions are based mainly on changes in toolmaking technology and subsistence practices.

Chronology

The earliest stone tools date to about 3.3 million years ago, while the ending of the Stone Age varies by region and generally coincides with the spread of metalworking. In some areas, the transition ended around 4000–2000 BCE, but local timelines differ.

Archaeological significance

The Stone Age is central to the study of human prehistory because it covers most of human history before written records and metals. It is often associated with major developments in early human technology, adaptation, and settlement patterns.