Earlyolithic

The Earlyolithic, also known as the Lower Paleolithic, represents the earliest period of the Paleolithic era, spanning from approximately 3.3 million years ago to about 300,000 years ago. This vast stretch of time is characterized by the development and use of the first stone tools by hominins. The earliest known stone tools, the Oldowan tool industry, are found in East Africa and consist of simple choppers and flakes made by striking one stone against another. These tools were likely used for a variety of tasks including cutting, scraping, and pounding, enabling early humans to process food more effectively, such as butchering carcasses and extracting marrow from bones.

The hominin species associated with the Earlyolithic include early members of the genus Homo, such as Homo habilis, as well as Australopithecus and potentially Paranthropus. While direct skeletal evidence for tool use is limited for the earliest stages, the archaeological record strongly indicates a gradual increase in cognitive abilities and manual dexterity. As the Earlyolithic progressed, tool technologies evolved. The Acheulean industry, which emerged around 1.7 million years ago and became widespread, introduced more sophisticated tools like handaxes and cleavers. These bifacial tools were more symmetrical and required a greater degree of planning and skill to produce. The Acheulean handaxe, in particular, persisted for over a million years, suggesting its effectiveness and the conservative nature of technological innovation during this period. This era laid the fundamental groundwork for subsequent human technological and behavioral development.