The document discusses the Palaeolithic Age in Malaysia, providing details on location, characteristics, way of life, and archaeological evidence. The Palaeolithic Age occurred between 10,000-200,000 years ago and involved early human life forms that predated Homo sapiens. Palaeolithic people lived as hunter-gatherers, using stone tools for hunting and tasks. Archaeological finds show they created cave paintings depicting animals they hunted and figurines that may have been religious symbols. Palaeolithic communities lived nomadically in small groups following animal herds and taking shelter in caves.

1. 1.0 Introduction
As a strategically positioned country with its easily accessible
borderline of the sea lane, Malaysia is a country with quite a
rich history that is heavily enforced by trade and foreign
influences. Various cultures from other lands have made their
way across the sea to Malaysia and became
2.0 Pre-historical Times
Before modern Man came to be, there was always, of course, a
step that we had to take to became who we have evolved to be.
Through evolution and steady growth had we turned to more on
improved and newer leases of living life. Evidence has shown
that there were indeed signs and proof of early human
habitation. In general, there are four stages of these pre-historic
ages: the Palaeolithic Age, the Mesolithic Age, the Neolithic
Age and the Bronze Age.
Prehistoric times meant that there were no forms of the written
word or any such records during that era; which also makes it
known as the preliterate era. The study on prehistoric times; of
which is discovered in various places follows the rise of human
civilization in those locations. Those humans who existed
between the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages are known as
Pithecanthropus Erectus; a name of Greek and Latin origin
which means upright ape man. Pithecanthropus Erectus could
communicate with each other and pass their skills and
knowledge via generation. Many of their tools and creations
such as axes and arrowheads were made of stone with no sense
of refinement in their craft; very crudely made. Their self-made
instruments are used to perform their main activities, which is
to hunt and collect supplies from the forest.
3.0 The Palaeolithic Age
The Palaeolithic Age happens to the period that says a lot about
our history. Stone tools, as old as 10,000 years or older have
been discovered. They have existed as proof that beings that are
similar, but not quite like us, have existed. Our species, Homo

2. sapiens, made an appearance around 200,000 years ago; so the
Palaeolithic Age involved life-forms which existed a long time
before we did.
It was a time when our kind survived solely as hunters or
gatherers; the name of this era had strong referrals to stone
tools. It is also most likely that bones were used as well to make
tools. It is most likely that the very first stone tools were used
as projectiles. Primitive beings would have observed that
broken stones possess these edges which could make even
deeper wounds or cut prey into pieces. These stone tools largely
assisted Palaeolithic man in different tasks. Stone axes wounded
or cut the prey. Animal skins were removed with stone scrapers.
Wood or deer antlers served as the handles. Stone drills were
used as well. The wooden tools did not manage to withstand
time.
The period of the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic
(40,000B.C.−10,000B.C.) saw a more complex range of tools.
For example, stone lamps which were loaded with grease
together with a wick made out of plant-like fibres; arrows had
their flint arrowheads joined to the rod with either tendons or a
resin. Needles and harpoons made of bone from that period have
been discovered in Europe (It was assumed that body coverings
sewn from furs and skins have been made due to the existence
of the needles). It seems that Palaeolithic man was a hunter
while the Palaeolithic women had the job of gathering. In the
later part of their lives, sons would train to be hunters.
For the Palaeolithic people, death was a simultaneous factor
that happened everywhere, almost all the time, omnipresent.
This translated the mysterious depths of life and death into a
faith which includes a world of spirits and the custom of
magical rituals. In most cases, the souls of the dead were
believed to turn into evil spirits that could bring harm to the
living. Therefore, a cult of the dead was formed, combined with
mystical rites that were meant to bring plentiful game. People
danced, adorning themselves with the skins of the animals they

3. wished to hunt along with masks which imitate the likeness
those animals.
Palaeolithic people were mainly hunters of prehistoric mammals
such as the large woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros.
Palaeolithic hunters, despite their relatively weak physiques,
manage to be successful at hunting trips because they hunt in
groups with their strong power of the mind. Trap holes with
wooden spikes staked to the bottom was a method the hunters
used to trap their game. The trapped animals would then be
finished off with blows from large stones. A single mammoth
could allow the horde’s survival during the Ice Age winters.
Grease taken from the mammoth was utilized for light and
heating.
Looking at archaeological finds, Palaeolithic people were also
very good artists. Cave wall paintings have been found all over
Europe. These paintings usually portray the many animals that
they had wanted to bring down; mammoths, bison, horses,
reindeer; these paintings had a magic character which somehow
orders for the capture of those animals. When the paintings of
the represented animals were completed, the hunters came and
fired their arrows at them, which would make sure that they
actually kill those animals in the hunt. Figurines of animals may
also have had the same function of bringing good hunt.
Figurines of women have also been found rather affectionately
termed as Palaeolithic Venus. Their interpretation of why they
are there is still unclear; although there have been speculations
from archaeologists that they could be emblems of fertility, or
perhaps direct representations of local goddesses.
Palaeolithic people firstly lived in hordes usually consisting of
two families; then it will grow into a tribe over time. In these
hordes and tribes, it was probable that the best hunter among
them became the chief. Chiefs were strictly obeyed and this
better organized hunting trips. In their hunting trips, the Chief
and other experienced hunters will assign different tasks to the
men involved; some would be beaters and the others would be

4. spear throwers. In this way, the hunting party could drive
animals into the traps. The Palaeolithic people were a nomadic
bunch− never staying in one place for long because they kept on
following the herds of wild animals they depended on for food.
For shelter, they mainly relied on caves but they could have
also set up tents made from skins, held up by sturdy branches.
Up until now, Palaeolithic communities are still thriving in
locations like Africa which has the Bushmen and Pygmies,
Australia with the Aborigines and South America with its tribes
in Tierra del Fuego.
Palaeolithic Age
Location
Characteristics
Way of Life
Archaeological Evidence
4.0 The Mesolithic Age
The Mesolithic or “middle stone” age, according to the
American Heritage Science Dictionary, is related to a Stone Age
period between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods that
began around 10,000 years ago and lasted in some places as late
as 3000 BCE.
As the last traces of the Ice Age period faded, there was the
gradual movement of human migrants travelling northwards
through Europe. The level of land rose faster than the sea level
as the ice decreased, creating natural land bridges between the
mainland and islands. The ecological conditions have been
modified with the glacial retreat; such as forest growths all over
Europe. With all this extra land that they got, Mesolithic

5. cultures were allowed to adopt a wide variety of techniques in
gathering food and other skills. Mesolithic people relied a lot
on hunting and fishing. Fishing settlements were set up along
lake shores and rivers where the fish and molluscs were
plentiful. The first signs of agricultural activity have also been
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Figure 3.0(a): Gua Niah (Sarawak, Malaysia)
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Figure 3.0(b): Cro Magnon Grottos (France)
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Figure 3.0(c): Altamira Cave (Spain)
We have four ancient ages in our country which are

6. Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age. People who
lived during these ages have their own characteristics. Discuss
the characteristics and their way of life based on the evidence
found by Archaeology
Brief opinion on Malaysian studies
Discuss on each age (P,M,N,B)Explain their
Location
Characteristics
Way of life
Evident found by Archaeologies (attach the evident)
Due date – 4th February 2012
GOOD LUCK!!