People in the Paleolithic Period used tools made by striking flakes from stone and lived by hunting and gathering while moving from place to place. Let us examine the realities of their lives.
Basic Knowledge
The most important feature of the Paleolithic Period was the use of chipped-stone tools. Chipped-stone tools were made by striking stones such as obsidian, sanukite, and chert with another stone to create sharp edges. They are distinguished from the “polished-stone tools” of the later Jomon Period.
Typical chipped-stone tools included hand axes, knife-shaped tools, points, and microliths. They were used as spearheads, hunting knives, and tools for cutting meat.
People moved in pursuit of prey and lived for short periods in caves or simple tent-like dwellings. They also knew how to use fire, which helped them cook, keep warm, and defend themselves from wild animals.
Hand axe An axe-shaped stone tool held in the hand, used for butchering and processing
Knife-shaped tool A thin stone tool with a sharp edge, used for cutting meat
Point A pointed stone tool used as a spearhead and a main hunting tool
Microlith A small stone tool from the late Paleolithic Period, fitted into a wooden or bone handle
Obsidian Volcanic rock that can be made into sharp blades, produced in Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido, among other places
Further Study (Background and Effects)
People in the Paleolithic Period hunted large animals such as Naumann elephants, giant deer, and moose in groups, and gathered roots, nuts, and fruit for food. Since pottery had not yet been made, food was prepared by methods such as roasting and drying.
It is thought that they hunted by ambushing animals with spears or driving them over cliffs in a “drive hunt.” A division of labor may also have begun, with men mainly hunting and women gathering.
Obsidian has been found in distant regions, showing that the movement of goods similar to trade had already begun among groups. For example, obsidian from Wada Pass in Nagano Prefecture has been found throughout the Kanto region.
- Chipped-stone tools = made by striking flakes from stone (a feature of the Paleolithic Period)
- Polished-stone tools = made by polishing stone (from the Neolithic and Jomon periods onward)
- Main tools: hand axes, knife-shaped tools, points, and microliths
- Obsidian and sanukite were major materials for stone tools
- Hunter-gatherer and mobile lifestyles were basic
- Fire was used, but pottery did not yet exist
- The movement of obsidian suggests the existence of primitive trade
Points to Note (Easily Confused)
① Never confuse “chipped-stone tools” with “polished-stone tools.” Paleolithic = chipped-stone tools; from the Jomon Period tools plus polished-stone tools. ② There was no pottery in the Paleolithic Period. Pottery appeared in the Jomon Period. ③ A mobile lifestyle was basic, and people did not live permanently in one place; permanent settlement began in the Jomon Period. ④ The bow and arrow began to be used in the late Paleolithic Period, but became widespread during the Jomon Period. ⑤ Microliths were small tools from the late Paleolithic Period that were fitted in groups into wooden handles, demonstrating advanced technology.
Practice
- Explain the difference between chipped-stone tools and polished-stone tools.
- Name two main ways people obtained food in the Paleolithic Period.
- What volcanic rock produced in places such as Nagano Prefecture was important as a material for stone tools?