The periods into which the history of humanity is usually divided are called ages . The term comes from aetas , a Latin word. Stones , on the other hand, are compact mineral substances that have a certain hardness.
The notion of Stone Age is used to refer to a stage of prehistory (the period of history that precedes writing and is known only through ruins and archaeological objects). Specifically, the Stone Age refers to the period in which humans began to manufacture tools made of stone , extending to the discovery and use of metals.
In the Stone Age , in short, man mainly used stones to manufacture various elements that were useful to him. In any case, he also used other materials, such as bones and wood .
Quartz , flint and quartzite were some of the most used rocks in the Stone Age . These substances allowed Homo sapiens to create weapons and percussion and cutting tools.
The Stone Age encompasses the periods known as the Paleolithic and Neolithic . Its beginning is located about 2.85 million years ago , while it extends until approximately 4000 BC , being the longest age.
In addition to everything stated above, we cannot overlook another important series of aspects about the aforementioned Stone Age, among which we can highlight the following characteristics or hallmarks:
-It occurred after the known ice ages.
-Agriculture began to develop there.
-It is considered that at this stage the human being began to develop his ability to think.
-In this list of characteristics of the Stone Age we cannot overlook that, after a stage in which human beings led a nomadic life, they will begin to focus more on a sedentary lifestyle. And that will bring with it not only the development of the aforementioned agriculture but also hunting and fishing.
-No less relevant is knowing that, in addition to stone, human beings also began to use another material such as wood. Thanks to this, he was encouraged to gradually leave the caves to shape his home and huts, cabins and even stilt houses were created.
-The domestication of animals was born to be able to use them in agricultural tasks.
-In the middle of the so-called Stone Age, what is known as rock art emerged. Basically through this, developed especially inside the caves, they came to represent scenes of their daily life such as hunting activity. However, battles, animals would also be represented...
Beyond the use of stone, in these years great changes occurred in human life, such as the mastery of fire, the evolution of clothing, the incipient development of livestock farming and the diaspora from Africa to other regions.