Final answer:
The Paleolithic period, or Old Stone Age, dates from as early as 3.3 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. It is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic, ending with the retreat of the ice age and the beginning of the Neolithic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paleolithic Period
The Paleolithic period, also known as the Old Stone Age, is a prehistoric era that started as early as 3.3 million years ago and spanned until around 12,000 years ago. This period is notable for being the time when primitive human ancestors began using stone tools. The Paleolithic is divided into three distinct phases: the Lower Paleolithic, the Middle Paleolithic, and the Upper Paleolithic. The Lower Paleolithic covers from roughly 3 million years ago to approximately 300,000 BCE, where early hominins like H. habilis created the Oldowan tool industry, succeeded by H. ergaster with the Acheulean tool industry. The Middle Paleolithic, approximately spanning from 300,000 to 40,000 BCE, saw the continuity of Acheulean tools and introduction of Mousterian tools by species such as H. heidelbergensis and H. neanderthalensis. The Upper Paleolithic, roughly dated from 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, marks significant cultural and technological advancements, including the production of cave art, Venus figurines, and complex tools from bone and antler. This period ended with the last ice age and the advent of farming and metal use in the Neolithic period.