Definition

1. Proper Noun:
   • The Paleolithic Age: A major prehistoric period, the second part of the Stone Age, characterized by the development and use of chipped stone tools. It began approximately 750,000 to 500,000 years BC and lasted until the end of the last ice age, around 8,500 years BC. This era is associated with hunter-gatherer societies.

Usage

• The term is used as a proper noun to refer to a specific, defined period in human prehistory. It is often discussed in archaeology, anthropology, and history.
• Example:
• Example:

Advanced Usage

• "the Paleolithic": Often used synonymously with "the Paleolithic Age."
  • Example: The transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic is marked by the advent of agriculture.
• "Upper/Lower/Middle Paleolithic": These terms subdivide the long Paleolithic Age into more specific chronological phases based on technological and cultural developments.
  • Example: The Upper Paleolithic saw significant advancements in toolmaking and artistic expression.

Variants and Related Words

• Paleolithic (adj): Of or relating to the Paleolithic Age.
  • Example: They discovered Paleolithic tools at the site.
• Palaeolithic Age (n): An alternative spelling, chiefly British English.
• Old Stone Age (n): A common synonym for the Paleolithic Age.
• Neolithic Age (n): The subsequent period in the Stone Age, characterized by polished stone tools and the beginnings of agriculture.

Synonyms

• Old Stone Age
• The Paleolithic

Related Phrases and Contexts

• Hunter-gatherer societies: The primary social and economic structure of the Paleolithic Age.
• Ice Age: The Paleolithic Age coincides with and ends at the conclusion of the last glacial period.
• Stone Age: The broader prehistoric period encompassing the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages.

Noun

1. second part of the Stone Age beginning about 750,00 to 500,000 years BC and lasting until the end of the last ice age about 8,500 years BC