September 08, 2007

Archaeologists divide the early age of humankind into three periods: Paleolithic (Paleo means old and lithic means stone), Mesolithic (Meso means middle) and Neolithic (Neo means new). The duration of the Old Stone Age is from 240,000 to 80,000, Middle Stone Age is from 80,000 to 40.000 and the New Stone Age is from 40,000 to 10,000 years.

Our information about these periods derives from archaeological findings which contain tools, instruments and pottery used by the ancient people. On the basis of these findings we are in a position to know about the activities of early human beings and how they struggled for their survival.

Hunting and gathering

In the Old Stone Age, people did not have settled life but they wandered from one place to another in search of food. They took refuge in caves to protect themselves from wild animals or the weather. As wandering people they did not have much baggage to carry. They kept only those things which they required in their daily life, and little else beyond that.

The simple lifestyle did not require inventing anything which was complex. They also did not have any attachment to land, as they were not cultivators; therefore, without settling in one place, they produced no major cultural values. They had a close relationship with domesticated animals which were their companions in ups and downs of life.

The early people’s source of food was either hunting or gathering edible plants. However, their relation with nature was very close. As they did not have any settlements, they did not leave behind any memorials.

Camps of the wandering people

Archaeologists have excavated camps of the wandering people of the Old Stone Age. These camps were their temporary residences where they stayed for a short period. In these camps archaeologist found broken stone tools and traces of fire. The location of these camps indicate that the ancient people preferred to stay in places where they could get plenty of stone to make tools. Such camps were near thick forests where they could go hunting and gather fruits, roots and herbs for food.

Tools and weapons

When we study the process of tool and weapon making we find that there is a long chain of human experience and observation behind it. Human need inspired man to invent a thing which he could use to his benefit. We also find that whenever there were new tools and instruments, they brought a change in human life and as a result, the whole structure of society underwent change. It sometimes heralded a whole new era. This is how we divide history into different periods.

How tools were made

History tells us that in the early period, human beings used their hands as tools to hunt and to collect fruits and vegetable for food. When man looked around, he found trees and its branches and stones. He realised their importance and began using them as tools and weapons. Therefore, man’s early position was as the ‘user of (existing) tools’.

When he started making tools from stones, this position changed and man became a ‘tool maker’. We find that in the beginning he used stones without any change as he found them. The method was that he used to throw heavy and pointed stones with full force to wound or kill animals or to hunt birds.

He also got berries and other fruits by throwing stones at trees. What man learnt using this method was the ability to hit with full force his object using body movements.