HOME

Research and find out how biological evolution connect to cultural evolution by looking at the revolution of stone tools of the various period

1. Oldowan

The Oldowan period is known for having the oldest-known stone tool industry (roughly around 2.5 million years ago). Many Oldowan artifacts have been recovered around many locations in the central, eastern, and southern Africa. Oldowan tools are widely considered as a major milestone in human evolution since their the first evidence of cultural behaviors by early Homo Habilis. Oldowan technology is commonly associated with “Choppers”. Research shows that Choppers were diversely used for cutting, scraping, chopping, butchering animals, and even cutting plants.

2. Acheulian

The Acheulian period is known for having a significant push towards revolutionizing stone-age technology and Acheulian tools are found over the largest are because of it having the longest-running industry. According to research, Acheulian stone tools are the products of Homo Erectus. The most common Acheulian stone tools were hand-axes which were commonly used for digging soil, butchering and skinning, and cutting. Many of the Acheulian tools had a lot of diversity when it comes to sizes, quality, and even purpose which is why they were used for so long in so many places. 

3. Mousterian

The Mousterian period provided tools that were considered as a technological leap since it was a transition from previous Acheulean hand axes to hafted tools, which are stone blades or points mounted on wooden shafts, wielded spears, bow, and arrows. Some Mousterian tools were also made up of Levallois tools which were used in different areas all throughout the Mousterian period.

4. Magdalenian

The Magdalenian period involved tools that were primarily made from unusual materials like bone and antler handles. The tools consisted of scrapers, bladelets, projectiles, hammers, spearheads, harpoons, needled, jewelry, rods, spears, and many others. Many tools were also created to create simple art in the Magdalenian period like tools used for cave drawings and carvings.

REFLECTION

I am personally interested in the way all five periods built and revolutionized upon the previous periods/tools in some way or another. All 5 periods and the tools within the periods all had their own characteristics unique to their said periods, and each tool showed the characteristics of the people that used them. The tools of each period also helped the culture of the people that used them evolve and adapt according to the environment that used them like the Magdalenian people using what they had around them to create art in caves for historical preservation and entertainment. I am also interested in how varying tools were used in a lot more places than other tools in different periods which may be an indication of the influence and reach of the population that inhabited each of the five periods.