paleolith

9.9

A very old stone tool used by early humans

noun
/ˈpeɪliəˌlɪθ/

Specialized

: paleolito

Many museums display paleoliths as key exhibits from the prehistoric era.

Examples

Many paleoliths were found at that excavation site.
The archaeologist discovered a paleolith in the cave.
A single paleolith can reveal much about the daily lives of early humans.
Archaeologists discovered a paleolith buried deep within the ancient cave.
Archaeologists discovered a paleolith that dates back to the early Stone Age, showcasing the ancient techniques used by our ancestors.
The museum has a fascinating exhibit featuring a paleolith used for cutting, highlighting the ingenuity of early humans.
During the excavation, a rare paleolith was unearthed, providing insight into the tools utilized by prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

Synonyms

hammerstone

vspaleolith

Specialized

1 9.5

A stone early people used to hit and shape other stones into tools

is a broader prehistoric stone tool not limited to striking

Surface Forms

paleolith singular

paleoliths plural

Morphology

paleolith = paleolithic (semi-transparent) = paleo + lith

Formally related to 'paleolithic' and the combining form '-lith' meaning 'stone', but the bound form 'lith' is not a familiar standalone word to many learners, so derivation is only partly clear.

Etymology

The word paleolith is made of parts that mean 'old' and 'stone': paleo- means 'old', as in paleolithic, and -lith means 'stone', so a paleolith is literally an 'old stone', a stone tool made and used long ago.