Prehistory and Early Humans Who were our earliest ancestors and what were their lives like?

The part of prehistory that the earliest humans lived through is called the Stone Age. The name comes from the material that was used to make most of their tools. They did make tools out of other materials too.

Such as… Bone Antler Ivory Wood

Life during the early Stone Age was very different from life during the later years of the Stone Age. So much so that the period is divided into three parts: The Old Stone Age The Middle Stone Age The New Stone Age

WE’RE GOING TO FOCUS ON JUST TWO OF THE TIME PERIODS The Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age

The Old and New Stone Ages are often known by different names… Paleolithic Age Paleo is from the Greek word for old or ancient. Lithic means stone. Therefore, Paleolithic means Old Stone. Neolithic Age Neo is from the Greek word for new. Therefore, Neolithic means New Stone.

Let’s look at the differences between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages

How did people get food during the Paleolithic Age? Men would hunt for meat. Women, children, and old, sick, or injured men would gather whatever they could find that was edible.

How did people get food during the Neolithic Age? People learned to grow their own food. People also domesticated animals. Tamed

Where did people live during the Paleolithic Age? There were no permanent homes. Because people hunted and gathered, they would have to move where the food was. Homes were temporary places like caves or mammoth bone huts.

Where did people live during the Neolithic Age? Because people were growing their own food they had to settle in one location. Homes were built out of timber (wood) or mud bricks.

How did people dress during the Paleolithic Age? Clothing was made primarily from the fur/hides of the animals that had been killed for food. The climate during the time was cold, so people dressed to stay warm.

How did people dress during the Neolithic Age? People still used mostly animal skins for clothing. In some places people were able to make fabric from the wool of their sheep.

Stone Age Note Chart

Comparison Paleolithic AgeNeolithic Age Food Hunted for meat and gathered nuts, berries, eggs, insects, and fruit. Farmed and herded animals Shelter Lived in temporary homes such as caves and mammoth bone huts. Lived in permanent homes near their crops and animals. Clothing Wore warm clothing made of animal fur. Wore animal furs and clothing made of woolen cloth. Tools Simple shaped stone tools like cutters, hand axes, primitive spear tips, and sharpened sticks. More advanced stone tools, bow and arrows, refined spear tips, harpoons.