Paleolithic Cultures Around the World — Reading Comprehension

The Paleolithic period, also called the Old Stone Age, began about 2.6 million years ago and ended around 10,000 BCE. During this era, humans lived as hunter-gatherers, moving from place to place in search of food. The Paleolithic period is marked by the development of the first stone tools, which allowed early humans to adapt to many environments across the globe.

Paleolithic cultures varied greatly depending on their region. In Africa, where humans first appeared, archaeologists have found some of the oldest stone tools at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, dating back nearly 2 million years. These simple tools, such as sharp flakes and hand axes, helped people cut meat and process plants. In Europe, evidence from the Lascaux Caves in France, created around 17,000 years ago, shows not only advanced hunting tools but also complex cave art that reveals the importance of animals like bison and horses to daily life. In Asia, at sites like Zhoukoudian in China, early humans used fire for warmth and cooking as early as 700,000 years ago, showing adaptation to colder climates.

The environment strongly influenced Paleolithic life. People living in colder areas, such as Ice Age Europe, wore clothing made from animal skins, built shelters from bones and hide, and relied heavily on hunting large game. In warmer regions, gathering wild plants and fishing were more common. Archaeological discoveries, like the remains of mammoth bone huts in Ukraine, provide evidence of how shelter designs responded to environmental challenges. The types of artifacts found in different regions, such as spear points in North America or shell ornaments in coastal Africa, demonstrate how geography shaped technology and culture.

Social organization during the Paleolithic era was typically based on small bands or groups. These groups shared resources and made decisions together, with some evidence of division of labor by age and gender. Although social hierarchies were less pronounced than in later societies, cooperation was essential for survival. Over time, humans developed more sophisticated tools and symbolic expressions, as seen in art and burial practices. These changes reflect both continuity and innovation in response to new challenges and environments.

The study of Paleolithic cultures teaches us how early humans used creativity and cooperation to survive and thrive in diverse environments. By analyzing archaeological evidence, historians can better understand the roots of human society and the enduring impact of early human adaptation on world history.

This exploration of Paleolithic cultures connects to broader themes of human migration, technological change, and the ways people shape—and are shaped by—their environment.

Interesting Fact: Some Paleolithic cave paintings, like those in Chauvet Cave, France, are over 30,000 years old and show animals that are now extinct, such as woolly rhinoceroses.

When did the Paleolithic period begin?

Where were the oldest stone tools found?

What type of art is found in Lascaux Cave?

Why did early humans' shelters differ by region?

What does division of labor mean?

How did fire help people in Zhoukoudian?

The Paleolithic period ended around 10,000 BCE.

What is an artifact?