Stone Age Tools and Technology — Reading Comprehension

The Stone Age marks the earliest period of human history when people primarily made tools and weapons from stone. Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three main periods: the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and the Neolithic (New Stone Age). These periods span from roughly 2.6 million years ago until about 3,000 BCE. The development of tools and technology during these periods reveals how early humans adapted to their environments and laid the foundation for future civilizations.

During the Paleolithic period, early humans such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus created basic stone tools known as Oldowan tools. These simple implements, sometimes over 2 million years old, included hand axes and flakes used for cutting meat and plants. Archaeological sites like Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania provide evidence of these tools. Over time, humans learned to create more specialized and efficient tools, such as blades and scrapers, which allowed them to hunt, process animal hides, and prepare food more effectively. The ability to control fire, first seen about 1 million years ago, also improved survival by enabling cooking and protection from predators.

By the Neolithic period, which began around 10,000 BCE, humans had developed advanced stone tools and new technologies. They began grinding and polishing stones to make axes and adzes, making them sharper and more durable. The Neolithic period also saw the rise of agriculture and the domestication of animals. These changes were closely connected to geography, as fertile river valleys in places like the Near East allowed for successful farming. People built permanent homes and villages, leading to new forms of social organization and the beginnings of social hierarchy. Archaeological discoveries at sites like Çatalhöyük in modern-day Turkey show evidence of specialized tools for farming, weaving, and food storage.

The impact of Stone Age technology on daily life was significant. Tools improved hunting and gathering, which increased food supplies and population growth. As humans learned to modify their environment, they influenced their ecosystems, both positively and negatively. Over thousands of years, continuity in tool-making methods can be seen, but there was also innovation as people learned from experience and adapted to new challenges. The gradual development of stone tools laid the groundwork for the later Bronze and Iron Ages, when metal tools would transform societies even further.

Stone Age tools and technology are essential for understanding the origins of human civilization. By examining archaeological evidence, historians and scientists can reconstruct how early humans lived, survived, and shaped the world. Studying these innovations helps connect us to broader themes in ancient history, such as adaptation, innovation, and the role of technology in shaping societies.

Interesting Fact: The earliest known art created by humans, such as cave paintings and carved figurines, was made during the Stone Age, showing that creativity and technology developed side by side.

Which tool type is the oldest?

Where is Olduvai Gorge located?

What did Neolithic people begin doing?

Why did toolmaking improve survival?

How did geography affect technology?

What is a scraper used for?

The Stone Age ended around 3,000 BCE. True or false?

What does 'agriculture' mean?