“The Old Stone Age”:  2,000,000 to 10,000 years ago

Paleolithic is known as very first development of human technology of the “Stone Age”.

Paleolithic began with the beginning of the first stone tools by hominids such as Homo habilis (around 2,000,000 years ago) and lasted until the introduction of agriculture.

Paleolithic ended with the Mesolithic or in areas with an early neolithisation, the Epipaleolithic.

History of Civilizations
Archaeologists and historians taking the invention of writing as a turning point in the human evolution, examine the history of civilizations under two separate headings, “Prehistoric Ages” and “Historic Ages ". Old Stone Age covers the longest period of time among all levels of civilizations.

Tools and Rest Artifacts
The best examples of the tools and other artifacts produced by Paleolithic People are on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, and at the Archaeological Museum of Antalya.

Art in Paleolithic Period
In Europe, the first art seems to have appeared toward the end of the Paleolithic period (35,000 B.C.E).

Paleolithic peoples painted and sculpted. The level of skill in painting and sculpting animals was remarkably high.

It is theorized that one of the functions of art within their societies was to ensure success in hunting.

Categorizing Paleolithic

Lower Paleolithic (2,500,000 years ago - 120,000 years ago, approx.):

Hominin ancestors of human beings, including Australopithecus, Homo erectus and Homo ergaster, and Homo habilis roamed most of the earth and began making the first stone tools. Lower Paleolithic was the time of the hand axe-industries.

Most primitive Tools in Lower Paleolithic Age
Olduwan, pebble tools & General purpose choppers were primitive tools in this age. Olduwan was named from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where first found with Homo habilis.   H. erectus and H. ergaster made and used “Hand Axes,” choppers, flake tools.  These took more time, made more blades per piece, cut better. 

Important Lower Paleolithic sites include Olorgesailie, Kenya and Swartkrans, South Africa.

Middle Paleolithic (300,000 years ago - 30,000 years ago, approx.):
Middle Paleolithic witnessed the evolution of the first modern Homo sapiens, and the first modern behaviors: specialized tools such as hand axes, some portable art, control of fire. Important sites include Blombos Cave and Border Cave, South Africa. Flake tools were made by the prepared-core technique in Middle Paleolithic period. This is when the Neanderthals lived. Modern H. sapiens originated during this period.
 
Middle Paleolithic Tools 
Flake tools, refined, wide variety of types: Bone tools, needles, suggest stitched clothes. People lived both in caves and open sites. One skin-covered elephant bone shelter, with internal fireplaces, tools.  Spear points effective hunters; possible spear throwers. 

Middle Paleolithic Art
Cave paintings, animals and humans; female figures- “Venus”

Upper Paleolithic (40,000 years ago - 11,000 years ago, approx.):
The technological changes of the transition from Middle to Upper Paleolithic have led some to speculate that human language first fully developed at this time. This culture seems to be primarily associated with the Cro-Magnon, or modern man.

The Upper Paleolithic is characterized by fully modern behaviors such as cave art, hunting, and a wide range of tools.

Upper Paleolithic Tools
People were adapting to changed climate – warmer now.  Now tools were improved including stone and bone; blade tools – shaped tools produced for every purpose.  They were   made from prepared cores; blades, drills, scrapers, points, engravers. Mesolithic tools were tiny blades, set into handles of wood, bone, and antler.

Upper Paleolithic Art
Cave paintings show hunting scenes, fertility focus.  Venus figurines of clay and stone emphasize female traits, and may show first weaving.  Carvings were done in wood, bone, antler, and ivory, stone. 

Musical instruments appeared: flutes and whistles.  Drums probably were used, but don't survive.

Lives of Paleolithic People

Late Paleolithic people were hunters and food gatherers. Their technological skills are demonstrated by artifacts made from chipped stone and flint, and the use of wood, clay, and animal parts. Their tool kit was extensive: knives, axes, scrapers, hammers, awls, needles, spears, harpoons, clubs, blowguns, and bows and arrows.

Depending upon the climate and/or region, Paleolithic people probably made kayaks, snow-houses and outrigger canoes and knew poisons such as hydrocyanic acid, curare, snake venom, hemlock, and alkaloids. They also used all the means which we use to preserve food: freezing, drying, sealing (in clay or bees wax).

Paleolithic Religion
Religion was apostrophic. That involved sympathetic and kind magic.

Related Sources: http://radar.ngcsu.edu/~jtwynn/paleolithic.htm