STONE AGE TECHNOLOGY

Stone Age Time Period

The Stone Age began at the beginning of what would become human civilization. It goes on until the discovery of smelting. Smelting allowed people to create tools made out of metal and stone tools became obsolete.

Stone Age Tools

Most tools in the Stone Age were created to help humans survive. These tools were used for hunting, agriculture, and food preparation. They were made out of different stones and this is the reason that this time period is known as the Stone Age.

Fire

Fire is an example of Stone Age technology. It may seem primitive now but 2 million years ago it was necessary for survival. Fire allowed early humans to control their environment.

The Wheel

The wheel is another good example of technology from the Stone Age. Early humans used this to move more quickly through the use of chariots and other wheeled vehicles.

The Wheel (Continued)

The wheel begins to appear in around the 4th millennium BC. It was discovered in Central Europe and Mesopotamia at around the same time. It is not clear which society discovered it first.

Flint knapping

Flint knapping is a technique that early humans used to shape stones for the creation of tools. Stones such as flint, and other flaky stones, can be shaped by chipping the flakes away to create an edge.

Atlatl

The atlatl is a tool that allowed humans to throw spears farther and faster. The animals hunted by early humans were strong and dangerous. The atlatl helped to give people an edge.

Clothing

Humans in the stone age had to use the pelts of animals for clothing. It was a difficult process to make skins suitable to be used as clothing. They had to be de-haired, washed, dried, and stretched before they were suitable for use.

Bow and Arrow

The bow and arrow was a very useful tool during the stone age. It allowed humans to kill their food from longer ranges, helping to keep them safe. This discovery made hunting much easier and safer.

Boat

Early humans also created primitive boats that allowed them to hunt. These boats were not useful for long-distance travel however. Evidence of these boats is generally found up north in colder environments.

Pottery

Pottery was a later invention in the Neolithic era. Pottery allowed prehistoric humans to store food for longer periods. This allowed them to settle down and lay the ground work for civilization.

Civilization as a Whole

Stone Age humans laid the foundation for all of civilization. Without our prehistoric ancestors we would not have civilization as we know it. History is just a continuation of the discoveries that humans made in the Stone Age.