Paleolithic

Pa·le·o·lith·ic  (pl--lthk)

adj.

Of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age beginning with the earliest chipped stone tools, about 750,000 years ago, until the beginning of the Mesolithic Period, about 15,000 years ago.

n.

The Paleolithic Period. Also called Old Stone Age. See Usage Note at Three Age system.

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Paleolithic  (pl--lthk)

The cultural period of the Stone Age that began about 2.5 to 2 million years ago, marked by the earliest use of tools made of chipped stone. The Paleolithic Period ended at different times in different parts of the world, generally around 10,000 years ago in Europe and the Middle East. Also called Old Stone Age. The Lower Paleolithic is by far the longest division of this period, lasting until about 200,000 years ago and characterized by hammerstones and simple core tools such as hand axes and cleavers. The earliest tools belong to the Oldowan tool culture and may have been made by australopithecines as well as by Homo habilis. Later Lower Paleolithic cultures include the Abbevilian, Clactonian, Acheulian, and Levalloisian, associated with early Homo erectus. The Middle Paleolithic is generally dated to about 40,000 years ago and is associated with archaic Homo sapiens, primarily the Neanderthals and their Mousterian tool culture. The tools produced during this period represent improvements on those of the Lower Paleolithic, especially in flaking techniques, but remain little changed throughout the duration of the period. The Upper Paleolithic dates to about 10,000 years ago in Europe and the Middle East and is associated with modern Homo sapiens. Various distinctive local tool cultures such as the Aurignacian, Solutrean, and Magdalenian flourished during this relatively brief period, producing a great variety of skillfully flaked tools as well as tools made of bone, antler, wood, and other materials. Compare MesolithicNeolithic

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Paleolithic - second part of the Stone Age beginning about 750,00 to 500,000 years BC and lasting until the end of the last ice age about 8,500 years BC Palaeolithic, Paleolithic Age Stone Age - (archeology) the earliest known period of human culture, characterized by the use of stone implements Lower Paleolithic - the oldest part of the Paleolithic Age with the emergence of the hand ax; ended about 120,000 years ago Middle Paleolithic - the time period of Neanderthal man; ended about 35,000 years BC Upper Paleolithic - the time period during which only modern Homo sapiens was known to have existed; ended about 10,000 years BC
Adj.	1.	paleolithic - of or relating to the second period of the Stone Age (following the eolithic); "paleolithic artifacts" palaeolithic

Translations

paleolithic

adj → paläolithisch, altsteinzeitlich