10 The Stone Age

The Stone Age

Long, long ago The Stone Age began a very, very long time ago, when the first people started making tools from stone. It lasted until around 4,000 years ago. Stone Age people also made tools from other natural things such as wood, bone, animal skins, deer antlers and plants.

On the move For most of the Stone Age, people found food by gathering wild plants and hunting wild animals. They lived in small groups. Each group moved from place to place to find enough food. Sometimes dogs helped people to carry things.

People built simple shelters to sleep in. They made fires for cooking food and keeping warm. Tame dogs helped with hunting.

Stone tools People made many different types of tools out of stone. Hand axes were made for cutting meat or plants. Arrows for hunting were made with stone tips. Scrapers were used to clean animal skins for making clothes. Good tool makers were very important people. They sat in the warmest spot near the fire.

Each stone tool had to be hammered and chipped into shape. It was very hard work. First, a tool maker chose a stone of the right type, shape and size. Next, she used an even harder stone to hammer off big pieces. Finally, she used an antler to chip off small flakes and make a sharp edge.