Upper Paleolithic

The Upper Paleolithic period dates between 50 000- 10 000 years ago, ending at the start of the Holocene period. The period marks the appearance of behavioural modernity in early modern humans until the event of neolithic revolution and agriculture.

The upper paleolithic period showed a marked increase in the diversity of artefacts. This shows a change in lifestyle of humans around 50 000 years ago compared to previously.

The upper paleolithic period also saw the spread of modern humans out further across the Earth. Humans began spreading out to the Middle East, North and West Asia, South West of Europe and then over to North, Middle and South America.

Upper Paleolithic Timeline

42 000 years ago: Paleolithic flutes in Germany

42 000 years ago: Earliest evidence of advanced deep sea fishing technology at cave in East Timor- high level maritime skills and technology needed to make ocean crossings to reach Australia and other islands- consuming large numbers of big deep sea fish like tuna

41 000 years ago: Denisova living in Altai Mountains of Russia

40 000 years ago: extinction of Homo neanderthalensis

40 000 years ago: Aurignacian culture begins in Europe

40 000 years ago: oldest known figurative art the zoomorphic Lowenmensch figurine

40 000 years ago- 30 000 years ago: First human settlements formed by Aboriginal Australians in several areas in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne

40 000- 20 000 years ago: oldest known ritual cremation, the Mungo Lady in Lake Mungo Australia

35 000 years ago: oldest known figurative art of a human figure (Venus of Hohle Fels)

33 000 years ago: oldest known domesticated dog skulls in Europe and Siberia

30 000 years ago: rock paintings tradition in India

29 000 years ago: earliest ovens found

28 500 years ago: New Guinea populated by colonists from Asia and Australia

28 000 years ago: oldest known twisted rope

28 000- 24 000 years ago: oldest known pottery used to make figurines

28 000- 20 000 years ago: Gravettian period in Europe. Harpoons and saws invented

26 000 years ago: people use fibres to make baby carriers, clothes, bags, baskets and nets

25 000 years ago: a hamlet consisting of huts built of rocks and of mammoth bones is founded in Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic. The oldest permanent settlement that has yet been found by archaeologists

24 000 years ago: Humans living in Alaska and Yukon North America

21 000 years ago: artefacts suggest early human activity in Canberra Austalia

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Upper Paleolithic Tools

The widespread use of blades began in the Upper Paleolithic period. Primarily used by the Early European Humans. Their long sharp edges make them useful for a variety of purposes.

Bone tools were cut, carved, polishes and modifies to produced points, awls, harpoons and wedges. These bones tools from china date to around 35 000 years old.

Microliths from around 18 000 to 22 000 years ago. Used to form points of hunting weapons such as spears and arrows. Made from wood, bone, resin and fibre.

Racloir used for scraping hides and bark and as a knife.

Harpoons carved out of bone found in Spain. Date around 7 000 and 15 000 years ago.

The oldest fish hooks date to around 22 000 years old and were made out of sea snail shells. Other fish hooks have also been carved out of bone.

The first form of sewing was probably tying together animals skins using thorns and sharpened rocks as needles with animal sinew or plant material as thread. Needles were then made from animals bones. Needles were then later being made out of ivory.

Upper Palaeolithic stone oil lamps were made in many different ways. Lamps were lit using animal fat or oil and could be made open for it to run off through natural crevices of the rock, closed to contain the runoff or with carved handles for easier handle. Moss or string would then have been used as a wick and placed in the oil to burn.