{"id":13995,"date":"2026-06-30T18:08:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?post_type=academic_content&p=13995"},"modified":"2026-06-30T18:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:44:52","slug":"palaeolithic-age","status":"publish","type":"academic_content","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/palaeolithic-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Palaeolithic Age: Meaning, Features, Culture and Stone Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Old Stone Age, or Palaeolithic Age, is the earliest period of human history, the time before prehistoric culture began. Throughout this period, hunter-gatherer early human beings hunted animals, fished, and gathered wild vegetation. They used basic stone tools like hand axes, choppers, cleavers and scrapers made from quartzite and other hard rocks. In general, humans lived in caves and rock shelters; sites like Bhimbetka provide evidence of early habitation and rock art. It is mentioned by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that the Palaeolithic age created a base for subsequent cultural and technological progress in the Indian subcontinent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lower Palaeolithic Age in India (2.5 Million\u2013100,000 BC)<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Lower Palaeolithic Age is the earliest phase of Old Stone Age and begins with Human life in prehistoric India. These early humans, such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus, lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers; Hunting animals and gathering fruits, roots, nuts, and other plants supported their subsistence. Farming, growing pottery and permanent settlements were unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Features of the Lower Palaeolithic Age<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/b><\/td>\nDetails<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Period<\/b><\/td>\nc. <\/span>2.5 Million\u2013100,000 BCE<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Human Species<\/b><\/td>\nHomo habilis and Homo erectus<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lifestyle<\/b><\/td>\nNomadic hunter-gatherers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Food<\/b><\/td>\nMeat, fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, and tubers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Occupation<\/b><\/td>\nHunting and food gathering<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shelter<\/b><\/td>\nCaves, rock shelters, open plains, and river valleys<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main Tools<\/b><\/td>\nHand axes, cleavers, choppers, flakes, knives<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tool Material<\/b><\/td>\nQuartzite, basalt, sandstone, and other hard rocks<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Agriculture<\/b><\/td>\nNot practiced<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Animal Domestication<\/b><\/td>\nNot practiced<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stone Tool Traditions<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Lower Palaeolithic Age saw the emergence of two major stone tool traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soanian Tradition<\/b><\/p>\n