Lower Paleolithic facts for kids

The Lower Paleolithic period was a super long time ago, when our earliest human ancestors first started making tools and exploring the world. It began about 3.3 million years ago and lasted until around 250,000 years ago. During this incredible era, early humans learned to make simple stone tools, discovered how to use fire, and began to spread out from Africa, setting the stage for all of human history.

Who Lived During This Time?

Reconstruction of a female Homo erectus. This species was a key part of the Lower Paleolithic.

During the Lower Paleolithic, the Earth was home to several different kinds of early humans, or "hominins." These weren't exactly like us today, but they were our ancient relatives!

• Australopithecus: Believe it or not, some of the very first tool-makers might have been a group called Australopithecus, even before the Homo family truly began. They were like the pioneers of tool-making!
• Homo habilis: One of the earliest members of our own Homo family, Homo habilis, lived during the early Lower Paleolithic. Their name means "handy man" because they were known for making and using simple stone tools. They were clever and resourceful!
• Homo erectus: This group was incredibly important! Homo erectus appeared around 2 million years ago. Their name means "upright man" because they walked fully upright, just like us. They were the first hominins to leave Africa and explore other parts of the world. They were true adventurers!
• Homo ergaster: Sometimes considered an early form of Homo erectus, Homo ergaster was also a key player, especially in developing more advanced tools.
• Homo heidelbergensis: Towards the very end of the Lower Paleolithic, around 500,000 years ago, Homo heidelbergensis appeared. They were bigger and had larger brains than Homo erectus and were ancestors to later human groups like Neanderthals.

These early humans lived in small groups, often moving around to find food and safe places to rest. They were tough, smart, and always learning!

Where Did They Live?

The story of the Lower Paleolithic begins in East Africa, especially in areas east of the Great Rift Valley. This region is often called the "cradle of humanity" because so many early human fossils have been found there.

For a long time, our ancestors stayed in Africa. But then, something amazing happened! Around 2 million to 1.5 million years ago, Homo erectus began to leave Africa. This was a huge deal – they were the first hominins to travel out of their homeland! They spread across southern Europe and Asia. By the end of the Lower Paleolithic, you could find early humans in places like:

• The South Caucasus (a region between Europe and Asia)
• Northern China
• Western Indonesia
• Around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe
• Even as far north as England, France, southern Germany, and Bulgaria!

Amazing Tools: The Dawn of Technology

One of the most defining features of the Lower Paleolithic is the invention and development of stone tools. These weren't just random rocks; they were carefully crafted instruments that helped our ancestors survive and thrive.

The Oldowan Industry

• When: Starting around 2.6 million years ago.
• Who: Likely Homo habilis and possibly even Australopithecus.
• What: These were the simplest tools, often called "choppers." They were made by hitting one stone against another to create a sharp edge.
• How they were used: Choppers were great for breaking open bones to get to the nutritious marrow, cutting meat from scavenged animals, or chopping plants. They also made "flakes" – smaller, sharper pieces of stone that could be used like knives.

The Acheulean Industry

Four views of an Acheulean handaxe

• When: Developed around 1.8 to 1.65 million years ago.
• Who: Mostly Homo ergaster and Homo erectus.
• What: The most famous Acheulean tool is the hand axe. These were much more advanced than Oldowan choppers. They were shaped on both sides to create a symmetrical, tear-drop or oval shape with a sharp edge all around.
• How they were used: Hand axes were incredibly versatile! Scientists think they were used for:
  • Cutting and chopping.
  • Digging: To unearth roots and tubers from the ground.
  • Scraping: To clean animal hides for clothing or shelter.
  • Even as weapons.

Besides stone, early humans also used wood and bone for tools, but these materials usually don't survive as well in the archaeological record. Imagine sharp wooden spears for hunting or digging sticks for finding food!

Fire Power

One of the most important discoveries of the Lower Paleolithic was the use of fire.

Homo erectus and Homo ergaster were using fire as early as 1.5 million to 300,000 years ago. Some evidence even suggests earlier use by Homo habilis! At first, they probably just collected fire from natural sources, like lightning strikes or volcanic activity. Later, they learned how to make it themselves, perhaps by rubbing sticks together or striking stones.
Why it was so important:

• Fire kept them warm in cold climates, allowing them to survive in new, colder regions.
• It scared away dangerous predators at night, making their camps safer.
• Cooking food made it easier to chew and digest, allowing early humans to get more energy from their meals. Some scientists even think cooking helped our brains grow bigger!
• Fire provided light in dark caves, allowing for more activities after sunset.
• A campfire became a central gathering place, strengthening social bonds within the group.

While the use of fire started in the Lower Paleolithic, it became much more common and controlled in later periods.

Early Travel: Rafts and Exploration

You might think ancient humans just walked everywhere, but some scientists believe they might have been more adventurous! There's a fascinating, though debated, idea that Homo erectus might have invented rafts around 840,000 to 800,000 years ago.

This idea comes from the discovery of Homo floresiensis (sometimes called "hobbits" because they were small) on the island of Flores in Indonesia. How did they get there? If Homo erectus used rafts, it would mean they were much more advanced than we sometimes imagine, possibly even communicating with an early form of language!

Even if rafts were rare, the fact that Homo erectus left Africa and spread across continents shows they were incredible travelers, adapting to all sorts of new environments.

The Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle

Homo heidelbergensis likely evolved from Homo ergaster (or African H. erectus) following an intense population bottleneck that occurred between 930,000 and 813,000 years ago.

Lower Paleolithic humans were hunter-gatherers. This means they didn't farm or keep animals like we do today. Instead, they found all their food from nature. They collected a wide variety of plant foods, including:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Tubers and Roots
• Seeds and Nuts
• Insects

They also hunted small animals using simple wooden spears and scavenged, meaning they found and ate meat from animals that had already died or been killed by other predators. This was a smart way to get protein without risking a dangerous hunt.

Early Shelters and Campsites

While Lower Paleolithic humans were often on the move, they did create places to live and gather. Caves and rock overhangs were popular choices, offering natural protection from the weather and predators. Evidence suggests that early humans also built simple shelters. For example, at a site called Terra Amata in France, archaeologists found traces of what might have been a wooden hut built by Lower Paleolithic humans! This shows they were capable of planning and constructing their own homes.

round 1.7 million years ago, and with stronger evidence from 500,000 years ago, early humans like Homo erectus might have started using "home bases" or central campsites. These would have been places where they brought food back to share, rested, and made tools. This was a big step towards more organized social life.

The World They Lived In: Ice Ages and Changing Landscapes

The Lower Paleolithic wasn't just about human development; it was also a time of dramatic changes on Earth. This period overlapped with the Pleistocene epoch, which is famous for its Ice Ages.

• The climate wasn't always the same. It went through many cycles of very cold "glacial" periods, where huge ice sheets covered much of the Earth, and warmer "interglacial" periods, like the one we live in today.
• While the continents were mostly in their modern positions, they were still slowly drifting. The formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which connected North and South America, happened during this time and actually affected global ocean currents and temperatures.

These climate changes greatly influenced where animals and plants could live, which in turn affected where early humans could find food and shelter. Our ancestors had to be incredibly adaptable to survive these shifting environments.

Social Life

The social organization of Lower Paleolithic groups is a bit of a mystery, but we can make some educated guesses.

• They likely lived in small, family-based groups, constantly cooperating to find food and protect each other.
• Even though we don't know all the details, scientists believe that Homo habilis and Homo erectus had more complex social lives than other animals, working together and sharing knowledge.
• There's some evidence that early humans cared for sick or injured members of their group, which shows a strong sense of community.

Fun facts about the Lower Paleolithic

• The word "Paleolithic" was created by an archaeologist named John Lubbock in 1865. It comes from two Greek words: "palaios," meaning "old," and "lithos," meaning "stone." So, Paleolithic literally means "Old Stone Age."
• The Acheulean hand axe was used for over a million years, making it one of the longest-used tools in human history!
• Scientists are still figuring out exactly how much meat versus plants our ancestors ate during the Lower Paleolithic. Some believe they were mostly fruit-eaters who occasionally ate meat, similar to chimpanzees today. Others think they ate a lot of meat, especially in colder regions. It probably varied a lot depending on where they lived and what was available.
• Interestingly, Paleolithic hunter-gatherers often had a more varied and nutritious diet than later farming societies. They weren't dependent on just a few crops, so they were less likely to suffer from widespread famine.
• While most clear evidence of art comes from later periods, some fascinating discoveries hint that Lower Paleolithic humans might have had an early sense of beauty and symbolism.
• Archaeologists have found traces of ochre (a natural pigment, often red or yellow) at Lower Paleolithic sites. While it could have been natural, it's possible our ancestors collected it for its color, perhaps to decorate themselves or their tools.

See also

In Spanish: Paleolítico inferior para niños

• Control of fire by early humans
• Lomekwi, the place where the oldest tools were found