Sculptures during the Paleolithic Era

Sculptures during the Paleolithic Era1What is Paleolithic Era?Paleolithic comes from the Greek word palaios (old) and lithos (stone) wherein it is the earliest period of human development and the longest phase of mankind's history.During this time humans used stone to make tools and stone was used many times as part of the actual tool.The most abundant remains of Paleolithic cultures are a variety of stone tools whose distinct characteristics provide the basis for a system of classification containing several tool making traditions or industries.2Lower Paleolithic Egypt (700,000-200,000 years ago)First stone tools were used to meet people's 3 basic needs: food, shelter, clothing. To hunt for food, the formed spears, first by sharpening the ends of sticks, but later by attaching a sharp stone spear-tip to wood.It was characterized by the production of large stone tools known as handaxes.

3Four views of an Acheulean handaxe (Lower Paleolithic Era)

4Middle Paleolithic Egypt (250,000-50,000 years ago) It was this time where more efficient stone tools were made by making several stone tools from one core resulting in numerous thin, sharp flakes that required minimal reshaping.Standardization of stone tool making led to development of several new tools. Tool makers pushed advancement even farther by making tools from animal bones and wide variety of stone tools.5Aterian bifacial pointAterian nosed pointAterian nosed-end scraper

6Upper Paleolithic Egypt (50,000-10,000 years ago)Desertification overtook the Sahara region. People were forced to migrate closer to the Nile River valley. Near the Nile, new cultures and industries started to develop. It had many new trends in production of stone tools, especially that of miniaturization and specialization.It was characterized by production of long thin stone tools known as blades.

7Prismatic BladeBurin Blade

8Epipaleolithic Egypt (10,000-5,000 years ago)Hunter-gatherers made relatively advanced tools from small flint or obsidian blades, known as microliths.Began a transition to the village-dwelling farming cultures.Necklaces, pendants, breast ornaments, headdresses of shell and bone are sculpted for ritual burials.After 7000 BC, permanent settlements were located on the floodplain of the Nile. It became permanent as people began to develop true agriculture.9