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: often capitalized; archaeological/historical term

1. the Paleolithic period or epoch
Usage: often capitalized; used with the definite article

Examples

• Paleolithic humans created cave paintings and carved figurines from bone and stone.
• The Paleolithic era lasted from approximately 2.6 million years ago until about 10,000 BCE.
• Archaeologists discovered paleolithic tools at the excavation site.
• During the Paleolithic, humans were primarily hunter-gatherers.
• Paleolithic art provides insight into the beliefs and daily life of early humans.
• The transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic marked the beginning of agriculture.