The word palaeolithic means ‘old stone age’. The Stone Age was the earliest period of human history before the use of metals, and the Palaeolithic period was the earliest part of the Stone Age, when humans first started making stone tools. People first made stone tools in Africa 2.5 million years ago, but the technology did not reach Britain till a little over 500,000 years ago.

In Europe and Asia the Palaeolithic period is divided into three stages. The Lower Palaeolithic covers the period from the earliest occupation until about 250,000 years ago. During this period humans made handaxes and tools from simple stone flakes. With the Middle Palaeolithic a new technology developed, known as Levallois technique, which enabled more precise flaking. By this time early humans had evolved in Europe and western Asia into Neanderthals.

In Europe, Neanderthals became extinct around 35,000 years ago and were replaced by modern humans at the start of the Upper Palaeolithic. New technologies were introduced with stone tools made of elongated flakes called blades, and the working of bone, antler and ivory to make points, harpoons and needles. Many cave paintings and a variety of other art also date to this time. In Europe, the Palaeolithic ended with the start of the Mesolithic ('middle stone age') after the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.