Palaeolithic Caves

Stone Age

As the name suggests, in the Stone Age the main raw material used to make tools was stone. The three periods of the Stone Age were the Paleolithic (from 2,4 million years ago until 10 000 BC, the end of the last Ice Age), the Mesolithic (from 10 000 BC until 7000 BC, the advent of agriculture), and the Neolithic (from 7000 BC until 4500 BC, the beginning of the use of metals).

Safe and warm – these are the defining characteristics of human homes, whether the primitive shelters of prehistoric times or today’s well-equipped modern houses.

For want of suitable tools, early humans were not yet able to build safe dwellings for themselves, instead they found natural shelters like caves or grikes.

Tools

Stone Age people made tools mainly from stones and pieces of rock initially by chipping, later by grinding. Wood and bones were also important toolmaking materials. They were used primarily for hunting.

There were three types of dwel­lings used by prehistoric people. Besides caves formed in the natural crevices of rock, they also made their homes under overhanging cliffs. If they could not find cliffs, they built huts from branches or large bo­nes covered with animal hide.

Cave paintings and drawings represent a separate group
of archaeological artefacts, which still pose a great many questions for archaeologists. The paintings usually depict wild animals and hunters
and were painted on the
walls and ceilings of caves.

Clothes

Initially humans covered their bodies with large leaves or animal hides for protection. By the later stages of the Stone Age they were able
to sew simple leather clothes.

The horde

Prehistoric people formed small communities, called hordes. Members of the horde were related, and caring for each other was a common task.