\[ **BT: [[prehistory]]** ] --- # Palaeolithic Also known as the **Old Stone Age**.[^1] It begins with the earliest known use of stone tools by [[human evolution#classification of the hominin|hominins]], approx. 3.3 million years ago, and is generally considered to end along with the end of the Pleistocene (that is, approx. 11,650 years ago).[^2] Followed by the [[prehistory#Mesolithic|Mesolithic]]. Because of its enormous timescale, it encompasses 99% of human history.[^3] It has commonly been believed that the entirety of the Palaeolithic fits within the Pleistocene; in truth, different geographic regions exit the Palaeolithic at different times. (Remember: [[It is problematic to simply assume that an archaeological framework based upon (and developed in) the (Euro-centric) West will simply fit a broader view of world prehistory.]][^4]) ## general observations *[[human beings#Homo neanderthalensis|Homo neanderthalensis]]* inhabited Europe, as well as Western and Central Asia, during the [[Pleistocene#Middle Pleistocene|Middle Pleistocene]] to [[Pleistocene|Late Pleistocene]].[^5] [[Neanderthals, hunter-gatherers, and farming humans during the Stone Age are believed to breastfed on demand for several years.|Hunter-gatherers and farmers during the Stone Age are believed to breastfed on demand for several years.]][^6] [[It has been strongly suggested that women, rather than men, were the earliest originators of the world's arts and crafts.]][^7] ### palaeolithic arts #### Venus of Willendorf [[The Venus of Willendorf, a high statuette of a female figure, was excavated in 1908. She may have emphasized the significance of fertility and childbearing.]][^8] ## specific time periods ### Lower Palaeolithic ==The oldest stage==. Approx. 3.3 million years ago to 300,000 years ago. [[Tools found in Renzidong, Anhui Province, indicate Homo erectus may have had an established presence in China around 2.25 million years ago.]][^9] ### Middle Palaeolithic Approx. 300,000 years ago to 50,000 years ago. ### Upper Palaeolithic Approx. 50,000 years ago to 12,000 years ago. A transitional period between the [[#Last Glacial Period]] and the [[#Neolithic Revolution]] in [[countries of the world#Eurasia|Eurasian]] cultures.[^10] + see also, for some regions: [[Holocene#Mesolithic|Mesolithic]]. #### domestication of animals ##### dogs [[Wolves are thought to have been first domesticated in East Asia.]][^11] [[All dog breeds are descended from domesticated wolves.]][^12] [[Interbreeding with grey wolves was likely an important part of dog maintenance throughout early dog domestication, and may have continued later, too.]][^13] [^1]: ‘Palaeolithic’, Wikipedia, last edited 3 January 2026, 10:37 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic. [^2]: ‘Palaeolithic’, Wikipedia, last edited 3 January 2026, 10:37 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic; ‘Palaeolithic’, Wikipedia, 17 March 2026, 10:16 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic. [^3]: ‘Stone Age’, Wikipedia, last edited 26 October 2025, 08:06 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Age. [^4]: Tracey L-D Lu, ‘[[Lu, ‘Neolithic Cultures in China’, 2013|Neolithic Cultures in China]]’, Oxford Bibliographies, last modified 22 April 2013, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199920082/obo-9780199920082-0004.xml. [^5]: ‘Neanderthal’, Wikipedia, 31 March 2026, 20:58 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal. [^6]: M. Papasavrou et al., ‘[[Papastavrou et al., ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]], *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care*, vol. 2, no. 6 (2015), p.1, https://doi.org/10.15406/jpnc.2015.02.00096. [^7]: Kang Yuwei, *[[Kang, One-World Philosophy, trans. Thompson, 1958|Ta T'ung Shu. The One-World Philosophy of K'ang Yu-wei]]*, trans. Laurance G. Thompson (Allen & Unwin, 1958), p. 155. [^8]: M. Papasavrou et al., ‘[[Papastavrou et al., ‘Breastfeeding in the Course of History’, 2015|Breastfeeding in the Course of History]], *Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care*, vol. 2, no. 6 (2015), p.2, https://doi.org/10.15406/jpnc.2015.02.00096. [^9]: Russell Ciochon and Roy Larick, ‘[[Ciochon and Larick, ‘Early Homo erectus Tools in China’, 2000|Early Homo erectus Tools in China]]’, *Newsbriefs* (Archaeology Magazine), vol. 53, no. 1 (January/February 2000). https://archive.archaeology.org/0001/newsbriefs/china.html. [^10]: ‘Timeline of Human Prehistory’, Scholarly Community Encyclopedia, updated 2 November 2022, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/32192. [^11]: Natia Kopaliani et al., ‘[[Kopaliani et al., ‘Gene flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)’, 2014|Gene Flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)]]’, *Journal of Heredity*, vol. 105, no. 3 (2024), p. 345, https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjhered%2Fesu0144. [^12]: Natia Kopaliani et al., ‘[[Kopaliani et al., ‘Gene flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)’, 2014|Gene Flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)]]’, *Journal of Heredity*, vol. 105, no. 3 (2024), p. 345, https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjhered%2Fesu0144. [^13]: Natia Kopaliani et al., ‘[[Kopaliani et al., ‘Gene flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)’, 2014|Gene Flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)]]’, *Journal of Heredity*, vol. 105, no. 3 (2024), p. 351, https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjhered%2Fesu0144; Laura Iacolina et al., ‘[[Iacolina et al., ‘Y-Chromosome Microsatellite Variation in Italian Wolves’, 2010|Y-Chromosome Microsatellite Variation in Italian Wolves: A Contribution to the Study of Wolf-Dog Hybridization Patterns]]’, *Mammalian Biology*, vol. 75, no. 4 (2010), abstract, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2010.02.004.