Essay Sample on Changes in Stone Tools

Introduction

Paleolithic period implies to the era which is marked by the human development of stone tools that shows technological advancement during this period. It is characterized by distinct phases that yielded to one another with each having an improvement of previous works. Notably, these advancements represent milestones in technological progress during this prehistorical period.

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The earliest stone tools during the Paleolithic period that marked the start of technological progression were discovered during the Oldowan period. It has been named after their place of discovery in large quantities in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. These tools were simple on construction that mainly consisted of core forms from river pebbles struck by a hammerstone to cause conchoidal fractures exterminating flakes resulting to a device that has a sharp tip and an edge. The blunt end is the point of attachment while the pointed end was to be used as the distal surface. The Oldowan tools are renown as choppers with a sharpened end used for cutting, chopping. Moreover, analysis has shown that surfaces on the devices of the flakes were used to butcher animals and for cutting plants (Scupin, 2016).

Acheulean represents the second phase of the Paleolithic period which marked the advancement in the tools used during Oldowan phase. Named after St. Acheul in France, tools of the Acheulean stage were more distal presenting a biface rather than a core form. The devices were made by hitting a stone to create a surface similar to the Oldowan tools and then hit with a soft hammer on the other side to comprise two convex shaped surfaces converging at the center. This earmarked the Oldowan tools as a significant technological advancement had been discovered. The devices were less in proximal surface and therefore allowed the user to put the instrument into better usage making the tool better for slicing. Most of the tools were disc-shaped, leaf-shaped with a pointed and elongated distal end which would be sharpened through further retouch (Scupin & DeCorse, 2016)

The rise of Mousterian era brought about a technological advancement that gave the Neanderthals a hand up in tool making proficiency and modes of usage. During this eon, the man had already formed a tool that served him well regarding slicing and cutting. However, he hadn't mastered the art of making a tool that held grip helping him well in his endeavors. The Mousterian technology consisted of removing flakes from all round stone in line with the intended chip. The final product is a flake with sharp distal edges with a proximal end of tips that are easy to grip. Moreover, this technological progress provided for control of shape and size that will suit oneself.

During the upper Paleolithic, it represented more sophisticated tools design in making and usage. Man, during this age used bone rather than stones to curve tools. Moreover, during this passe, technology provided with a solution to the small proximal edge in which the instruments were fixed firmly to a haft. This provided more efficient uses of the tools although they required more sophisticated expertise.

Conclusion

Through the Paleolithic period, tools were made with improvements that led to the man being able to survive easily through hunting and gathering. Whereas the technological advancements may seem to be minimal, it helped support man in a world that was increasingly becoming hard to find food due to population upsurge.

References

Scupin, R., & DeCorse, C. R. (2016). Anthropology: A global perspective. Pearson Education.