Stone tools & uses of Fire

STONE TOOLS AND USES OF FIRE

• Archaeologists describe the time period of Hunters-Gatherers as STONE AGE.
• Stone was used as tools and weapons and they took shelters in the caves in diverse climatic conditions.
• Stone age can be divided into three periods-

PALAEOLITHIC PERIOD:

• The earliest period.
• Comes from two Greek words, 'palaeo' means old, and 'lithos' means stone.
• Period extends from 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago.

• The long span further divided into three parts –
  • Lower Palaeolithic
  • Middle Palaeolithic
  • Upper Palaeolithic
• This period covers 99% of human history.

MESOLITHIC PERIOD:

• It is also called Middle Stone Age.

• The period of environmental changes.
• Began about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago.
• Tiny stone tools found in this period, called MICROLITHS.
• Handles of bone or wood attached with the Microliths to make tools i.e. saws and sickles.

• Old tools continued with the new ones.

NEOLITHIC PERIOD:

• 'Neo' means new, it's a New stone age.
• From about 10,000 years ago

EVOLUTION OF FIRE AND ITS USES:

• Traces of ashes have been found in the Kurnool Caves of Andhra Pradesh.

• The people were familiar with the use of fire.
  • a source of light
  • to roast meat
  • to scare away animals
• The first reported use of fire in the Indian subcontinent was from 18,000-20,000 years ago.