Upper Paleolithic

The Upper Paleolithic is the last part of the Old Stone Age. It happened between about 50,000 and 12,000 years ago. During this time, humans began to live in more complex ways.

Humans made new kinds of tools and art. They created paintings in caves, carvings, and symbols on bones and stones.

Early humans, known as Anatomically modern humans, moved from Africa to places like Europe, Siberia, Australia, and the Americas. They lived in groups and had special places for storing food.

People also got better at hunting and fishing. These skills helped them live in many different places. These changes prepared the way for future developments, like the start of farming.

Lifestyle and technology

See also: Hunter-gatherer, Aurignacian, and Behavioral modernity

Long ago, humans like Homo erectus and Neanderthals used simple stone tools. But around 50,000 years ago, people began making many kinds of tools for special jobs, like hunting and carving. These tools were made from stone, bone, ivory, and antler. Some people even made beautiful cave paintings and small carved figures called Venus figurines.

People lived in valley bottoms and moved to find food. They hunted animals like caribou and fished in the ocean. They made tools such as darts, harpoons, fish hooks, oil lamps, rope, and eyed needles. These tools helped them survive during cold times when the climate changed.

Notational signs

Some early signs next to pictures of animals may have been used around 35,000 BCE in Europe. These signs might be some of the first ways people tried to write. They used lines and dots to show information about animals.

Changes in climate and geography

The climate in Europe changed a lot during this time. There was a very cold period called the Last Glacial Maximum, when huge sheets of ice covered much of northern Europe. People had to move to safer places, like parts of modern-day Italy, the Balkans, Spain, and around the Black Sea.

After this cold time, the weather became warmer and wetter for a short while. Then it suddenly turned cold again, creating very chilly conditions across northern Europe. Finally, the weather warmed up once more, leading to the end of the Upper Paleolithic period and the beginning of a new time for human cultures. As the ice melted, sea levels rose, changing coastlines and hiding many clues about life from that ancient time.

Timeline

See also: Prehistoric Europe § Upper Paleolithic

The Upper Paleolithic was the last part of the Paleolithic era, lasting from about 50,000 to 12,000 years ago. During this time, humans made many important advances.

50,000–40,000 BP

50,000 BP

Many stone tools were found in Castlereagh, Sydney, Australia. People in Fa-Hien Lena cave, Sri Lanka had developed bow and arrow technology.

48,000 BP

The first proof that Neanderthals hunted cave lions was found in Seigsdorf, Germany.

45,000–43,000 BP

See also: Initial Upper Paleolithic

The earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe was found in Southern Italy. The oldest known math tool, the notched Lebombo bone, was found in Eswatini (Swaziland). The oldest mining happened at the Ngwenya Mine in Swaziland, where humans mined hematite to make red pigment ochre. The oldest known cave art was found at Leang Bulu' Sipong in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

43,000–41,000 BP

Microlithic artefacts were found in Kana, West Bengal, India. Ornaments and remains of modern humans were found at Ksar Akil in Lebanon. Denisova hominins lived in the Altai Mountains.

40,000–30,000 BP

40,000–35,000 BP

People lived in Perth, Australia. Melbourne, Australia was home to hunter-gatherers. Early culture developed in the Swabian Alps, with the oldest depiction of a human (Venus of Hohle Fels). The Löwenmensch figure was created in Hohlenstein-Stadel. The first flutes appeared in Germany. Notational signs in caves are some of the first known writing. Many large animals in Australia went extinct. Fishing of fish happened at Jerimalai shelter, Timor.

Examples of cave art in Spain are some of the oldest found in Europe. Wall paintings of animals were made at Chauvet Cave in France. Evidence shows Neanderthals were still around in Spain 37,000 years ago. People lived in the Chek Lap Kok area, now Hong Kong International Airport. Zar, Yataghyeri, Damjili and Taghlar caves in Azerbaijan were home to people. Japan was first inhabited.

35,000–30,000 BP

Kostenki XVII, a layer of the Kostenki (Kostyonki) site, was home to early people. The Red Lady of Paviland lived around this time.

30,000 BP

The first ground stone tools appeared in Japan. People lived in Sydney, including the Eora and Dharug people. The first settlement in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia happened. Kilu Cave at Buka shows the first settlement of an oceanic island.

30,000–20,000 BP

29,000–25,000 BP

The Ciomad volcano erupted in the Carpathians. The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is the oldest known ceramic. The Venus of Willendorf was created. People lived in Beijing, China. Paintings of horses were made in Pech Merle cave, Dordogne.

24,000 BP

The second Mousterian Pluvial began in North Africa.

23,000 BP

The Venus of Petřkovice was created in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

22,000 BP

Last Glacial Maximum: The Venus of Brassempouy was created in France.

21,000 BP

Early human activity happened in Canberra, Australia. The second Mousterian Pluvial ended in North Africa.

20,000–10,000 BP

Main article: Epipaleolithic

Last Glacial Maximum. Sea levels were lower, so many coastal sites are now underwater.

18,000 BP

An ibex-headed spear-thrower was found in Mas-d'Azil cave. A Mammoth-bone village was in Mezhyrich, Ukraine.

17,000 BP

Spotted human hands were painted at Pech Merle cave, France. The Hall of Bulls at Lascaux in France was painted. Paintings were made in Cosquer Cave.

15,000 BP

Bølling interstadial. Bison was painted at Le Tuc d'Audoubert, France. Paleo-Indians moved across North America.

14,000 BP

Paleo-Indians searched for big game near Hovenweep National Monument. Bison was painted at Altamira, Spain. The Holocene extinction began.

12,000 BP

Wooden buildings were in South America (Chile). The first pottery was made in Japan.

11,000 BP

People lived in Argentina. Human remains were found off the coast of Yucatán, Mexico. Creswellian culture settled on Hengistbury Head, England.

10,000 BP

Evidence near Lake Turkana, Kenya shows warfare happened.

Cultures

The Upper Paleolithic had many different cultures around the world. In the Franco-Cantabrian region:

• The Châtelperronian culture was in central and southwestern France and northern Spain. It lasted from about 45,000 to 40,000 years ago.
• The Aurignacian culture was in Europe and southwest Asia, flourishing between 43,000 and 26,000 years ago.
• The Gravettian culture was found across Europe, with sites dating from 33,000 to 20,000 years ago.
• The Solutrean culture was in eastern France, Spain, and England, from about 22,000 to 17,000 years ago.
• The Magdalenian culture was present from Portugal to Poland, between 17,000 and 12,000 years ago.

Other areas had their own cultures too, each lasting thousands of years and showing how people lived during this time.