What is the cultural phase known as the "Old Stone Age" that includes both the Oldowan and Acheulian cultures?

The cultural phase referred to as the "Old Stone Age" encompasses two significant prehistoric cultures: Oldowan and Acheulian. This period is characterized by the development of early stone tools used by hominins, marking them as key to human evolution. The Oldowan, known for its simple chipped stone tools, represents the earliest known tool culture, while the Acheulian is recognized for more advanced bifacial tools, including hand axes.

This period is classified as the Lower Paleolithic, which spans approximately 2.6 million years ago to about 300,000 years ago, covering the time when our earliest human ancestors began to make and use stone tools. The technologies developed during this time laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in human culture and tool-making.

The Upper Paleolithic, in contrast, follows the Lower Paleolithic and is characterized by more complex tools and art forms, while the Mesolithic refers to the transitional period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic, marked by a change in lifestyle and technology as humans adapted to different environments and began to exploit a wider range of food sources. The Neolithic period, on the other hand, is noted for the advent of agriculture and permanent settlements.

In essence, recognizing the Old Stone Age as part of the