Stone Age History

The Stone Age marks the first and longest period of human development, beginning around 2.5 million years ago and lasting until about 3,300 BCE. It is divided into three phases: the Paleolithic (old Stone Age), characterized by hunter-gatherer societies and the use of simple stone tools; the Mesolithic (middle Stone Age), which saw advancements in tool-making and the beginnings of settled communities; and the Neolithic (new Stone Age), marked by agriculture, pottery, and more complex social structures. This era laid the foundational aspects of human culture, technology, and society.