Lower Paleolithic

Biface Cintegabelle MHNT PRE 2009.0.201.1 V2

Lower Paleolithic is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It spans the time from around 3.3 million years ago, when the first evidence of tool use by early humans appears, to around 300,000 years ago, marking the advent of the Middle Paleolithic. This period is characterized by the development and use of the first stone tools by hominins, a group that includes modern humans (Homo sapiens), Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), and other extinct relatives.

Overview

The Lower Paleolithic is notable for the emergence of Homo habilis, approximately 2.8 million years ago, considered by many scientists to be the first member of the genus Homo. This period sees the use of simple stone tools, known as the Oldowan tradition, which were likely used for cutting, smashing, and scraping. Animal bones with marks from these tools suggest that early humans were scavenging meat from carcasses rather than hunting.

Around 1.76 million years ago, a more advanced tool culture emerged, known as the Acheulean industry, associated with Homo erectus. Acheulean tools are characterized by their hand axes, which represent a significant technological advancement in terms of design and utility. These tools were used for a variety of purposes, including butchering animals, woodworking, and processing plant materials.

Habitat and Lifestyle

During the Lower Paleolithic, early humans inhabited a range of environments, from African savannas to Eurasian forests and grasslands. The spread of Homo erectus out of Africa and into Eurasia is a significant event of this period, marking the first instance of human migration on a large scale.

Evidence suggests that Lower Paleolithic hominins were primarily hunter-gatherers, although the use of fire and the construction of simple shelters were likely rudimentary aspects of their lifestyle. The control of fire, evidenced in some sites by burnt bones and ash layers, would have provided warmth, protection from predators, and a new way to process food.

Significant Sites

Several archaeological sites have been crucial in understanding the Lower Paleolithic, including:

- Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, where some of the earliest Oldowan tools and fossils of Homo habilis have been found. - Koobi Fora in Kenya, known for its well-preserved hominin fossils and Oldowan tools. - Dmanisi in Georgia, which has yielded the oldest known human fossils outside Africa, dating back to approximately 1.85 million years ago. - Atapuerca in Spain, where evidence of the earliest human presence in Western Europe has been discovered, including Acheulean tools and Homo antecessor fossils.

Conclusion

The Lower Paleolithic period lays the foundation for the complex human societies that would eventually emerge. It is marked by significant evolutionary developments, including the advent of tool use, the expansion of hominins out of Africa, and the beginnings of cultural and technological innovation. As such, it represents a crucial chapter in the story of human evolution.