The Stone Age is the first period in the three-age system frequently used in archaeology to divide the timeline of human technological prehistory (especially in Europe and western Asia) into functional periods, with the next two being the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, respectively.
The Stone Age was a prehistoric cultural stage, or level of human development, characterized by the creation and use of stone tools, the oldest known of which date to some 3.3 million years ago. The Stone Age is usually divided into three separate periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
Stone Age | Definition, Tools, Periods, Peoples, Art, & Facts - Britannica
Paleolithic or Old Stone Age: from the first production of stone artefacts, about 2.5 million years ago, to the end of the last Ice Age, about 9,600 BCE. This is the longest Stone Age period.
When Was the Stone Age? The Stone Age marks a period of prehistory in which humans used primitive stone tools. Lasting roughly 2.5 million years, the Stone Age ended around 5,000 years ago when...
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Stone Age accounts for approximately 98% of human history. This period began over 3.3 million years ago with the earliest known stone tools and continued until the emergence of metalworking societies around 5,000 years ago. It spans the entire development of the early human species, including Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and early Homo sapiens.
Surveying the Stone Age, a Period That Covers 98% of Human History
The Stone Age, a prehistoric period spanning millions of years, is a critical chapter in human history characterized by the use of stone tools and the gradual development of human societies.