10.

Stone or Wooden Club

The Stone Club preceded more sophisticated implements like the Stone Axe and, at its most
basic was simply a lump of wood that had weight at one end and a good grasp at the other.
As simple as this is, it gave man a weapon that extended his striking range, even if only for a
few feet, allowed him to tackle dangerous animals, and mortal enemies, more confidently.
More importantly it exaggerated the users strength by using leverage to impart great force at
the striking end of the club.
Where would we be if Stone Age man didnt have a club to carry around with him? The
Flintstones would just not be the same.

9. Cave Painting / Art

There are many examples of quite intricate Stone Age cave paintings across the globe,
depicting people, animals, plants, hunting, the stars, gods or spirits and more.
In some cases these paintings go beyond merely reproducing what happened in the day to day
lives of our ancestors and instead took on the role of a story board, a short film or book that
told a tale.
It is no stretch to say that these paintings were the art of their time and we can only assume
that this art form was more pervasive at the time of its origin than the examples left today.
Art implies thought beyond what was required for practical survival, indeed thinking that had
a perspective on time and place.
If you are interested in cave paintings and havent seen Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Werner
Hertzog, please take a look. It is an extraordinary documentary.

8. Pigment For Body Decoration

Archaeologists have found evidence that Stone Age man used colored pigments for body
decoration as long as 400,000 years ago. Although the range of colors they could produce
was very limited, typically in the earthy tones associated with ochre and iron oxides in the
earth, the fact that Stone Age man decorated himself introduces the concept of status and the
ability to think in the abstract.
The ultimate expression of color and status came much more recently when blues and
purples, colors that were difficult to create and therefore expensive, became associated with
royalty.
Our Stone Age ancestors not only decorated themselves, they also used Ochre and various
oxides to create cave paintings that demonstrated a sense of time and place, past and future.

7. Sewing
Flax fibers more than 34,000 years old have been discovered that had been spun to make
thread. Our ancestors fashioned needles from animal bones and used the thread to sew animal
hide and fur into clothes, shoes and packs and to create string or yarn that had many uses
including hefting and being used in making baskets and other domestic pieces.
But what was particularly interesting about these fibers, found in the Republic of Georgia,
was their color. Among black and natural fibers were those colored pink and turquoise. Pink
and turquoise! So much for Stone Age people walking around in dull variations of beige, here
is evidence that they made an effort to introduce color into their lives.
Perhaps even a sense of fashion? Hmmm, probably not.

6. Flute / Music
Although whistles that only produced a single note have been found from as long as 100,000
years ago, it was the discovery of a bone flute from 45,000 years ago that had four finger
holes in it that gives us real proof that our Stone Age ancestors had incorporated music into
their lives.
This flute was broken at either end so the number of holes in the full flute would have been
more than four enabling a wide variety of notes to be played.
Interestingly this flute was found in a cave (in Slovenia) that had been occupied by
Neanderthals, not Homo sapien. Indeed Neanderthals and Homo sapien were known to have
existed in the same areas of ancient Europe together up until the Neanderthals disappeared
around 35,000 years ago.
Music. Art. Body decoration. Life was perhaps a bit more colorful for Stone Age man than
we might have thought.

5. Bow & Arrow

The bow and arrow was the ultimate Stone Age weapon although they were a relatively late
invention, only being in use in parts of the world for the last 30,000 years or so.
These sophisticated instruments required a number of technologies to exist in order to be
created. Firstly they needed very strong string or twine, a sharp stone tool to shape the bow
and the arrow shaft and the ability to split very sharp, fine stone for the arrow head.
The ability to injure or kill prey or foe from a distance gave our Stone Age man an incredible
advantage and, along with the following two inventions, ensured his dominance on the planet
Earth.

4. Long Hunting Spear

For the purposes of getting food and defending themselves Stone Age man had to contend
with numerous creatures that had sharp claws and teeth. Long hunting spears as well as
thrusting spears meant they didnt need to get too close to their prey and had a better chance
of injuring or killing the animal while minimizing the potential of their own injury or death.
When long wooden hunting spears were used by a number of people to corner and engage
with prey, man became a formidable hunter, increasing their food supply and general safety.
Hunting spears have been found in Europe dating back 400,000 years.

3. Stone Axe
Our Stone Age ancestors made a giant leap when they invented the stone axe somewhere
between 250,000 and 1.2 million years ago. Someone at some point intuitively saw the value
in attaching a sharp stone to the end of a stick, a process called hafting, and using leverage
to increase power at the axe head.
This was a ground breaking tool that gave the user the ability to kill prey faster and easier
than before, fight aggressors (or be a better aggressor), open nuts or seeds for food, chop
wood for fire and shape wood in order to build better shelters.
The axe remains a commonly used tool across the globe today making it one of the oldest and
most valuable inventions ever.

2. Shelter
Amazingly, the earliest evidence that our ancestors built fixed shelters is from around
2,000,000 years ago. Naturally stone age man sheltered under trees and in caves where
possible, but the first evidence of a man-made structure specifically created to provide shelter
comes from a site in Central Africa all those years ago.Some shelters were made of stone and
wood, others used the bones and tusks of mammoths to provide the structure and we assume
all would have used animal hide and fur to provide a floor and walls.
Other examples of early shelters have been found in Europe and Asia dating back around
500,000 years. These shelters showed evidence of a hearth or fireplace and separate rooms
representing a major improvement in living conditions for people using the shelter. Warmth,
light, staying dry, cooking, flooring and fur hide bedding. A most luxurious existence.

1. The Controlled Use of Fire

Fire wasnt discovered as such as it existed before Homo Erectus harnessed its power,
however the ability to control fire was the greatest step forward in the history of mankind and
our ancestors.Fire enabled us to cook food meaning we were better nourished, keep warm
which meant we were better rested, migrate into colder climates which saw us diversify
across the globe, fight away predators, clear forests for agriculture and bake clay to make
utensils. It provided a sign of safe haven at night.Signs of controlled fire have been found at
various sites in Africa that are up to 1.8 million years ago. Without learning how to harness
and control the power of fire it would be a very different world today.