Final answer:
Mousterian technology emerged around 250,000 years ago during the Middle Paleolithic period, signifying an advancement in stone tool technology by using flakes for various purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mousterian technology, associated with the Neanderthals, emerged around 250,000 years ago and continued to be used until approximately 50,000 years ago. These tools represented a significant advancement over previous stone tool technologies, such as the Acheulean tools, as they utilized flakes from stone cores to produce finer, more versatile working edges. The flakes were shaped into tools like small knives, scrapers, and spearheads that were essential for butchering animals, scraping leather, and hunting. Mousterian tools were part of the Middle Paleolithic period and their use indicates an important evolutionary stage in human technological development.