The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic – lit. old stone – period is the oldest part of the stone age, dating from the first use of stone tools by hominids (maybe 2,000,000 years ago) to the end of the Pleistocene epoch. Subdivisions of the Paleolithic include Lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic, the time of the hand axe-industries Upper Paleolithic and the Epipaleolithic.

The Paleolithic is followed by the Mesolithic period in most of Europe. In regions such as the Middle East and Anatolia with a very early neolithisation, the Epipaleolithic is followed by the aceramic Neolithic (Pre-pottery Neolithic A and Pre-pottery Neolithic B) and the pottery Neolithic.

Notable paleolithic sites and cultures include:

• Altamira, Spain, Upper Palaeolithic
• Baile Herculane, Romania
• Lascaux – cave paintings, France, Upper Palaeolithic
• Olduvai Gorge, Lower Palaeolithic
• Bilzingsleben, Germany, lower Palaeolithic
• Königsaue, Germany, Middle Palaeolithic

See also

• 10th millennium BC