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Characteristics of the New Stone Age
Introduction
Stone ages are divided into old and new depending on their characteristics. However, as is obvious, in both ages, the use of stone as a tool was prevalent. The new stone age is also called the neolithic era. The term neo is taken from Greek which means new. So neolithic means the new stone era.
Although the use of stone in both the old and new stone ages was common, there are some stark differences in terms of characteristics between the two ages. The new stone age saw newer developments and intelligence. People not only learned new skills and life−changing techniques but the new stone age also changed the pattern of life of human beings. That is why the neolithic era is considered one of the most interesting to study and discover new facts.
Image 1: Model of Middle Neolithic (5000−3000 BCE) settlement in the Yellow River Valley in northern China
Characteristics of the New Stone Age
The first question that comes to mind when we talk about the new stone age is − why are the two stone ages separated? What was the difference between these two eras? The answer lies in the temperature rise of the world. About 12,000 years ago, the temperature of the world rose to favor the human population. A warmer climate meant people could live together and leave the habit of nomadic life.
As the last great ice age ended 12,000 years ago, people now turned to form new habits. There was no need for animals and humans to live separately. They could live in one place due to the warmer climate.
Some people gave up nomadic lifestyles and settled down in one place. Therefore, permanent homes came up. People learned to grow crops instead of searching for food. Therefore, people started to engage in agriculture in the neolithic age which changed their way of lifestyle forever and for good.
The people of the new stone age also learned how to domesticate wild animals. This meant that people learned how to make animals useful for human beings. It is however unknown which animal was domesticated first. Many researchers, however, think that dog was the first animal that was domesticated by humans.
In the neolithic age, unlike living in small groups in the old stone age, people started to live in big cities. There are proofs of this fact that geologists have unearthed. One example of a large city in which people of the neolithic age lived is Catalhoyuk, the “fork mound” according to English situated in Turkey. To live in big cities, people had to cooperate with each other. So, civilizations that translate to living in cities came into being.
Image 2: Çatalhöyük, 7400 BC, Konya, Turkey − UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto−city settlement in southern Anatolia, 7400 BC.
In the new stone age, people learned to produce surplus food that could be shared with other people. This meant that all people did not need to engage in cultivation. Therefore, people could do other tasks, such as creating artwork and jewelry. Some people also started to produce tools and homes, and hence people started to specialize in different tasks.
Many examples of artwork have been recovered from the remains of Catalhoyuk city, and jewelry and figurines have also been discovered. Frescoes have also been found in the walls of homes in Catalhoyuk city.
It is also believed that people in the new stone age engaged in trade among cities. Excavation in Jericho, one of the oldest cities in history, archeologists have discovered obsidian knives and blades that were probably traded from Catalhoyuk. Obsidian is a volcanic glass that was abundant in Catalhoyuk. As there was no resource of obsidian glass near or in Jericho, archeologists believed that Jericho traded these tools in exchange for salt that was abundant in the dead sea in Jericho.
It has also been found that people started to divide tasks depending on gender in the Neolithic era. Women mostly engaged in cooking at home in Catalhoyuk while men did most of the outdoor work. Therefore, it could be stated that gender−based work culture could be dated back to the Neolithic era.
Interestingly, Calathoyuk city of the neolithic age was street−less. There were no special streets for a commute. Instead, people moved on the rooftops of the attached buildings that were made up of mud bricks. This example of the city shows the interdependence among the residents.
At the end of the neolithic age, people learned to use metals. Copper was the first metal that was exclusively used in paving the path to the Copper age.
Key Takeaways
The stone age can be divided into two parts − the old stone age and the new stone age.
The new stone age is also known as the neolithic era.
The term neo is a greek term that means new. Lithic is attached to the stone, so neolithic means the new stone age.
The new stone age started more than 12,000 years ago after the end of the great ice age.
The temperature of the earth became warmer at the end of the great ice age.
Warmer temperatures helped humans and animals to live together.
People left nomadic lifestyles in the neolithic age and settled in permanent homes.
People learned to domesticate animals for human use. The dog was probably the first animal that was domesticated.
Instead of living in small groups, people started to live in big cities in the neolithic age.
Farmers of the neolithic age learned to produce surplus crops that could be shared with other people.
Surplus food meant everyone need not be engaged in cultivation. So, people started to specialize in other tasks, such as making artwork and jewelry.
People in the neolithic age also started trading among the cities. One object of abundance in one city was exchanged for another abundant item in another city.
It has also been found that people of neolithic cities had gender−based roles in society.
One great example of a neolithic city is Catalhoyuk which was in modern−day Turkey.
Remains of a street−less city with attached living spaces have been found. People in the city commuted on the rooftops of the buildings.
People started to use metal at the end of the new stone age. Copper was the first metal that was used extensively.
Conclusion
The new stone age is a golden period of human development and proliferation. Knowing the facts of history related to the new stone age helps us better understand the process of development of human beings into modern form. As lifestyles changed, they changed the whole idea of civilization during the new stone age. It is important to know the facts as they show how our ancestors lived their lives and how we have come to be modern human beings in today’s world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Qns 1. When did the great ice age end?
Ans. The great ice age changed more than 12,000 years ago.
Qns 2. Where is the city Catalhoiyuk situated?
Ans. Catalhoyuk was a city situated in Turkey.
Qns 3. What is the common fact between the old and the new stone age?
Ans. Use of stones as a tool is common between the two stone ages.
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