Question

Answer the following question in 3-4 complete sentences.

Provide the following information for the Lower and Middle phases of the Paleolithic period:

- timeline
- a description of the type of art and tools

Answer 1

Lower Paleolithic (approximately 2.6 million–300,000 years ago): tool industries include simple Oldowan choppers and flakes and later Acheulean bifacial handaxes and cleavers made by early Homo species; there is very little clear evidence of representational art, only rare or ambiguous markings and possible simple personal modifications. Middle Paleolithic (approximately 300,000–40,000 years ago): tool kits are dominated by prepared-core and flake technologies (e.g., Levallois and Mousterian industries), with more refined flake tools and evidence of hafting and composite tools; symbolic behavior becomes more apparent in the archaeological record through the use of pigments, personal ornaments, and simple engravings, though large-scale figurative cave art is generally a feature of the later Upper Paleolithic.