The Palaeolithic, efers to the prehistoric period when stone tools were made by humans. They are found in the Great Rift Valley of Africa from about 2.6 million years ago. They are found in Europe somewhat later, from about 1 mya (0.7mya for Britain). The Palaeolithic is by far the longest period of humanity's time, about 99% of human history.The geological period which corresponds to the Palaeolithic is the Pleistocene.
Stone tools were not only made by our own species, Homo sapiens. They were made by all previous members of the genus, starting with relatively crude tools made by Homo habilis and Homo erectus. In Europe, the large-brained Neanderthal Man (Homo neanderthalensis) made tools of high quality, and was in turn outshone by the many tools made by our own species. These tools are the first cultural products which have survived.