A prehistoric period characterised by the invention and use of stone tools by early humans, it began around 3.3 million years ago and ended between 8000–2000 BCE in various parts of the world with the advent of metal smelting technologies. Further divisions of the Stone Age classify the period into three distinct stages: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic.
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Archaeology & Prehistory | Study & Criticism | Premodern Culture | Paleolithic (–8000 BCE)
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ChicagoImpart Encyclopedia of Art. "Stone Age." Last updated February 17, 2026. https://imp-art.org/definitions/stone-age/.
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MLA"Stone Age." Impart Encyclopedia of Art, Feb. 17, 2026, https://imp-art.org/definitions/stone-age/.
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HarvardImpart Encyclopedia of Art (2026) Stone Age. Available at: https://imp-art.org/definitions/stone-age/ (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
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