The document summarizes inventions from the Paleolithic Era that were significant in early human history. It discusses how tools made from stone, bone, and other materials allowed humans to more easily acquire food and provided defenses. It also describes early developments in textiles like string and sewing, as well as the invention of weaving using plant fibers. These creations laid the foundation for the evolution of civilization by enabling more advanced technologies and cultural practices.

1. Paleolithic Era: The Dawn of Human Invention
Mercedes Kelley
History 1163 World Civilization 1
Hannah Jackson
February 24, 2014

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Outline
Introduction
Thesis: The Paleolithic Era was the dawn of the Homosapien known as the “thinking man”; it
was during this time period that some of the most significant events in early human history
occurred; textile, carving, weaving, tools of different grades and materials, and adjustments to
acquiring a food source laid the foundation for civilization’s evolution.
I. A major breakthrough that separated the Homosapiens from other species, such as Homo-
erectus, is the invention and use of tools in daily life.
a. Stone tools were the first of these tools and are responsible for the coined term “stone
age.”
b. Some other types of materials used to create tools are flint, bone, and antler; these
substances are very sturdy and withstood the test of time.
c. Whether it is stone, bone, antler, or flint: these crude tools were made for cutting,
chopping, and smashing in order to achieve a goal in a much easier manner than
possible before.
II. Important to the formation of civilized culture and still today, textile and clothing is vital
to society.
a. String made its debut in the middle to late Paleolithic era and was used for several
purposes; the first fishing nets were formed from string and have held this design
since.
b. Needle and thread already invented from bone, new materials were tested and
manipulated for various purposes; some materials used were not unlike coarse
modern linen.

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c. The art of sewing and knowledge of textiles was prestigious during this age; many
“Venus” figurines have been found with magnificent styles of clothing that were
considered finery in these times.
III. Another invention of the Paleolithic era was weaving; this introduced even more
possibilities for the Stone Age world.
a. Reeds and other grasses are where the art of weaving began, people experimented
with what they could make with the plants
b. Woven items served many purposes from baskets providing a better means of
gathering food or hats for protection from the blistering sun.
c. Rugs, tapestries, and woven furniture came about because of the invention of
weaving; the loom and other inventions would come later in time to improve this
practice.
IV. Conclusion

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The Paleolithic Era: The Dawn of Human Invention
Thousands of years ago something incredible in history happened, the dawn of a new
man who could think, forever changing the future of human kind. From the moment the
homosapien raised a rock with the intention to use it methodically to assist in the outcome of
food or defense the tool invented tools that would mold and shape the future for his kind.
Tools began rocks and sticks, and soon they would develop into axes and spears. Man would
discover the material capabilities of plants and other things in the environment allowing
materials to come into creation alongside methods to bind these materials together.
Paleolithic man is the founder of craftsmen ship. The Paleolithic Era was the dawn of the
Homosapien known as the “thinking man”; it was during this time period that some of the
most significant events in early human history occurred; textile, carving, weaving, tools of
different grades and materials, and adjustments to acquiring a food source laid the foundation
for civilization’s evolution.
A major breakthrough that separated the Homosapiens from other species, such as Homo-
erectus, is the invention and use of tools in daily life. Stone was the first of these tools and
became responsible for the coined term “stone age” that the Paleolithic era is known as.
Boulders and other fragments of stone were fashioned into tools that gradually evolved and
changed, as the need of man changed so did the tool’s purpose causing the man to develop
and adapt the crude tools. Some other types of materials used to create tools are Flint, Bone,
and Antler; these substances are very sturdy and withstood the test of time. From Flint came
fire, two pieces of this substance create sparks when stricken against one another and could
very well have been man’s first encounter with the flame. Bone and Antler made knives,

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spears, arrow heads, and even decoration. Whether it is stone, bone, antler, or flint; crude
tools made cutting, chopping, and smashing much easier to do to for all purposes they have
been used for.
Important to the formation of civilized culture and still today, textile and clothing is vital
to society. String made its debut in the middle to late Paleolithic era and was used for several
purposes; the first fishing nets were formed from string and have held a similar design since.
The introduction of nets led to bigger food supply not just with fishing but it also led to the
creation of better hunting traps. A wire hunting trap is a modified version of a Paleolithic
string trap that has proven itself successful. Needle and thread already invented from bone,
new materials were tested and experimented with to find the best kind of thread and string
became very popular as it was the strongest form of thread in the times. The art of sewing
along with the knowledge of textiles was prestigious during this age; many “Venus” figurines
have been found with magnificent styles of clothing that were considered finery in these
times. These “Venus” figurines and depictions of fine cloths in artwork uphold this theory
the prestige was bestowed upon the Stone Age Seamstress.
Another invention of the Paleolithic era was weaving; this introduced even more
possibilities for the Stone Age world. Weaving sustained it’s vitally in the arts beyond the
Paleolithic era, opening doors for new creations made with the same principles. Reeds and
other grasses are where the art of weaving began; people experimented with what they could
make with the plants. Gradually, people learned which grasses were malleable but sturdy
enough to withstand bending; it was then was weaving began, one man braided together the
grasses or plant fibers and formed an idea for an invention. Woven items served many
purposes from baskets providing a better means of gathering food or hats for protection from

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the blistering sun. Rugs, tapestries, and woven furniture came about because of the invention
of weaving; the loom and other inventions would come later in time to improve this practice.
Throughout time and still today the hand woven materials became a demand which produced
a price; weaving became an artisan skill that less and less people do today but has held up to
the test of time.
The Paleolithic Era was the dawn of the Homosapien known as the “thinking man”; it
was during this time period that some of the most significant events in early human history
occurred; textile, carving, weaving, tools of different grades and materials, and adjustments
to acquiring a food source laid the foundation for civilization’s evolution. Even though much
information is still unknown about this era, much that is known is of the simple inventions
that open a whole world of ideas for the future. From crude stitching came high fashion,
without stitching it could have been hundreds of years if at all that a method of fusing fabrics
together was invented or discovered. Without tools of stone, bone, antler, or flint there would
not be the sophisticated structures we have today; the tools that developed in order to make
buildings, monuments, and sculptures possible would not exist or be less developed than they
are. The art of weaving that produces such divine décor like hand woven rugs of precious
materials or tapestries containing an entire family tree could have potentially never come into
existence if it were not for the Stone Age man. “Thinking man” gave us a future with his
inventions and without him who knows if we would not be clubbing Neanderthals over a
carcass or fighting off blood thirsty wolves with rocks and sticks; Paleolithic inventions
allowed man a brighter more intelligent future.

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Works Cited
Guisepi, Robert A.. "An Overview of the Paleolithic." History World. History World
International, n.d. Web. 1 Mar 2014. <http://history-world.org/stone_age1.htm>.
Angier, Natalie. "Furs for Evening, but Cloth Was the Stone Age Standby." Hort Purdue.
Hort Purdue, 14 Dec 1999. Web. 1 Mar 2014. <http://www.hort.purdue.edu/
newcrop../hort_306/reading/reading 2-1.pdf>.
Osborn, Henry Fairfield. Men of the Old Stone Age: Their Environment, Life and Art. Second.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1916. eBook. <http://books.google.com/
books?lr=&id=3r6h5ZGe9gIC&dq=old stone age inventions&q=Bibliography