- Time Period: 2.6 million years ago - 12,000 years ago.
- Lifestyle: Early humans lived a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place in search of food.
- Society: Lived in small, loosely organized social groups, such as bands, tribes, or clans.
- Shelter: Caves, rock shelters, rudimentary huts made from branches, leaves, and animal skins.
- Hunting and Gathering: Main source of food was through hunting and gathering. They used simple tools and weapons made of stone, wood, and bone.
- Stone Tools: Developed stone tool technologies such as hand axes, scrapers, and choppers for hunting, butchering, and other activities.
- Use of Fire: Learned how to control fire, which brought significant advancements, including warmth, protection, improved cooking, and defense.
- Art: Evidence of artistic expression can be seen in cave paintings, rock carvings, and small sculptures made from bone and stone.
- Language: Development of language allowed for more complex communication and cooperation.
- Climate: Earth experienced several ice ages during this time, which influenced human migration patterns and adaptation.
- Regional Differences: Old Stone Age cultures varied across different regions, influenced by local environmental conditions and resources.
- Extinction of Megafauna: Many large animal species, such as mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant sloths, went extinct during this era, impacting human hunting strategies.