Class notes: stone age

STONE AGE – CLASS 9 SOCIAL
SCIENCE
Chapter Overview
The Stone Age is the earliest period of human history when humans used stone tools for
survival. It is divided into three phases:

Period Time
Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) 2 Million Years Ago – 10,000 BCE
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) Around 8000 BCE
Neolithic (New Stone Age) Around 4000 BCE


Why Did Early Humans Move?
Early humans were nomads and moved from place to place because:

✅ Food in one area got exhausted

✅ Animals migrated in search of grass and water

✅ Different fruits grew in different seasons

✅ Rivers were not perennial, creating water shortages

Survival Requirements

 Knowledge of surroundings
 Proper tools
 Quick and alert mind


PALAEOLITHIC AGE (Old Stone Age)
Key Features
 Lived in caves and on trees
 Moved from place to place
 Hunting and food gathering
 No permanent houses
 Wore animal skins
 Discovery and use of fire

Palaeolithic Sub-Stages

, Lower Palaeolithic

 Ice Age (Pleistocene Period)
 Hand axes were commonly used

Middle Palaeolithic

 Scrapers
 Borers
 Stone flakes
 Needles used for stitching animal skins

Upper Palaeolithic

 Warmer climate
 Flint blades
 Projectile points for hunting
 Better hunting techniques

Tools Used
🔹 Weapons for hunting

🔹 Digging roots

🔹 Cutting and shaping materials

🔹 Protection and security


MESOLITHIC AGE (Middle Stone Age)
Microliths
Microliths were:

 Small polished stone tools
 Sharp and pointed
 Made using stone, bone, antlers and wood

Types

 Blades
 Points
 Borers
 Scrapers

Important Features