Upper Paleolithic

Quick Facts: Who was Upper Paleolithic?

Subject:

Upper Paleolithic

Known for:

The final, most innovative phase of the Old Stone Age, marked by behavioral modernity.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. Very broadly, it dates to between 50,000 and 12,000 years ago (the beginning of the Holocene), according to some theories coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity in humans. It is followed by the Mesolithic.

Career & Major Achievements

Anatomically modern humans (i.e. Homo sapiens) are believed to have emerged in Africa around 300,000 years ago. It has been argued by some that their ways of life changed relatively little from that of archaic humans of the Middle Paleolithic, until about 50,000 years ago, when there was a marked increase in the diversity of artefacts found associated with modern human remains. The Upper Paleolithic has the earliest known evidence of organized settlements, in the form of campsites, some with storage pits.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Artistic work blossomed, with cave painting, petroglyphs, carvings and engravings on bone or ivory. The first evidence of human fishing is also found from a 125,000 years old artefacts in Buya, Eritrea, and in other places such as Blombos cave in South Africa.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Upper Paleolithic

True or False: “The Upper Paleolithic period is primarily defined by the appearance of behavioral modernity in humans.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The Upper Paleolithic is strongly associated with the cognitive and cultural advancements that characterize behavioral modernity, marking a significant shift from previous Old Stone Age cultures.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Vedic period — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The Vedic Age (c. 1500–500 BCE): Composition of foundational Hindu texts.
• Wari culture — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Middle Horizon Andean civilization, establishing a vast empire in modern-day Peru.
• Wends — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A historical term for the Polabian Slavs, referring to various groups across modern Germany and Poland.
• Women's history — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The academic study of women's roles, achievements, and rights throughout recorded history.
• Xia dynasty — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The traditional first dynasty in Chinese historiography, associated with the Erlitou culture.
• Zhou dynasty — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A long-lived Chinese royal dynasty (c. 1046–256 BC) that shaped early Chinese political structures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Upper Paleolithic