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Eolithic Age

Eolithic Age

9.9
Earliest part of the Stone Age when people first made simple stone tools
  • noun
  • /ˌiːəˈlɪθɪk eɪdʒ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Edad Eolítica
  • The Eolithic Age marks the beginning of human technological development.

Examples

  • Artifacts from the Eolithic Age provide insight into early human life.

  • Many archaeologists no longer recognize the Eolithic Age as a distinct phase of prehistory.

  • Debates over the Eolithic Age illustrate the challenges in interpreting ancient evidence.

  • Supposed stone tools from the Eolithic Age were later shown to be naturally formed rocks.

  • The Eolithic Age marks the beginning of human technological development.

  • Artifacts from the Eolithic Age provide insight into early human life.

  • Many archaeologists no longer recognize the Eolithic Age as a distinct phase of prehistory.

Synonyms

Paleolithic
vsEolithic Age
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The early part of the Stone Age when people first made stone tools

is only the earliest part rather than the entire long early period
Paleolithic Age
vsEolithic Age
  • Specialized
1 6.7

The first part of the Stone Age when people made simple stone tools

is the earlier smaller part marked by first traces of tools and culture
Lower Paleolithic
vsEolithic Age
  • Specialized
9.2

A very early time in human history when people first used simple stone tools like hand axes

is the broader earliest part marked by first traces of tools and culture

Surface Forms

Eolithic Age singular
Eolithic Ages plural

Morphology

Eolithic + age

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Eolithic' denotes the earliest part of the Stone Age and 'age' denotes a historical period, so 'Eolithic Age' straightforwardly means the period characterized by Eolithic features. Although 'Eolithic' is a technical/rare term, if a learner knows that constituent the combination follows a common and transparent naming pattern for historical periods.

Etymology

Eolithic Age may come from old words meaning 'dawn' and 'stone', so it makes you think of the very start of the Stone Age. That's why it refers to the earliest time when people made the first simple stone tools.