How were ancient tools first developed? What is the neolithic period? Where can I find references on these two topics?

The Neolithic period refers to a stage in man's development. This period is characterized by domesticated animals, plants, farming and a move toward more refined tools. This period occurred at different times for various cultures, the earliest known one being the South West Asia around 8000 BC and 6000 BC.

http://www.slider.com/enc/37000/Neolithic_period.htm

http://www.stedwards.edu/bss/aflorek/neo.htm


Tools during this period became more sophisticated and refined. Stone tools were "knapped", that is chipped and shaped by other tools into the final product to be used as arrow heads and sundry other tools.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/kuwait/lithics.htm

The development of tools closely reflected the development of domestication of animals and farming by early man. The need to produce tools that could be used for a greater variety of purposes either than just simply hunting for food. Its the transition as well from a hunter gather life stlye to the foundations of early civilisation that also hastened this leap forward. This is a big area and the following link should provide you with a wealth of information on this subject and plenty of more links for further research and study. [URL=URL=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/lj/archaeologylj/experimental_03.shtml] [This message was edited by Silver Thunder on 11-16-03 at 06:58 PM.]

The Paleolithic Age which began about 2 million years ago was the first earliest known use of tools. The first tools were probably actual sticks. The people were hunters, fishers
and gatherers who pierced fish, killed small animals and used sticks to defend themselves against wild animals. Early people would take sticks and rub the ends against the ground to create a sharp yet deadly point. They also used the bones from animals they killed as tools. As their technology increased they discovered that chipping stone and pebbles were more efficient.

I found an interesting article on the Paleolithic Age which describes some of tools and how they progressed over time throughout the Paleolithic Age.

The Neolithic Age was around 10,000 years ago. They had advanced technology in carving and grinding. There was a shift from food gathering to food production. People began planting their own food. Neolithic Period

Remember this:

The Paleolithic Age is the earliest period. The hunter-gatherer society was very uncivilized. They depended on nature for their food but didn't produce it themselves. Paleolithic comes from the Greek word "Old Stone".

The Neolithic Age is when societies switched from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural one. As they were advancing in their technology, the tools became more advanced. Neolithic comes from the Greek word "New Stone".