1. of, relating to, or denoting the earliest period of the Stone Age, characterized by the use of crude stone tools and the development of human culture
Usage: also spelled Paleolithic in U.S. English; archaeological/historical term

1. the Palaeolithic period or epoch
Usage: also spelled Paleolithic in U.S. English; often used with the definite article

Examples

• Palaeolithic humans created hand axes and other stone tools for hunting and gathering.
• The discovery of palaeolithic cave paintings in France provided insights into early human artistic expression.
• During the Palaeolithic, humans lived in small nomadic groups.
• Archaeologists study palaeolithic artifacts to understand how our ancestors lived.
• The Palaeolithic lasted from roughly 2.6 million years ago until about 10,000 BCE.
• Palaeolithic people gradually developed language and social structures.