Prehistoric Cultures and Stone Ages (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) – MCQs

1. What is the defining characteristic of the Paleolithic era?
(A) Farming and permanent settlements
(B) Hunting and gathering lifestyle
(C) Use of bronze tools
(D) Advanced writing systems

2. What marks the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic period?
(A) The use of polished stone tools
(B) The invention of agriculture
(C) The discovery of fire
(D) The development of trade networks

3. What is the primary characteristic of Mesolithic tools?
(A) Made of metal
(B) Larger and less efficient
(C) Microliths for specialized tasks
(D) Tools with decorative carvings

4. Where were the earliest examples of cave art discovered?
(A) Africa
(B) Europe
(C) South America
(D) Asia

5. Which activity characterizes the Neolithic period?
(A) Nomadic hunting
(B) Herding and farming
(C) Stone carving for tools
(D) Cave painting for rituals

6. What is significant about the site of Çatalhöyük?
(A) It is the first evidence of writing
(B) It is an ancient Neolithic settlement
(C) It contains Mesolithic microliths
(D) It shows Paleolithic burial practices

7. What does “Neolithic Revolution” refer to?
(A) The transition to agriculture and permanent settlements
(B) The invention of fire
(C) The use of advanced hunting tools
(D) The beginning of religious practices

8. What innovation was first seen in the Mesolithic period?
(A) Use of metals
(B) Domestication of animals
(C) Development of writing
(D) Creation of fire

9. What is a hallmark of Paleolithic art?
(A) Tools made of bronze
(B) Simple pottery designs
(C) Cave paintings depicting animals
(D) Written language

10. Which region is most associated with early human migration?
(A) South America
(B) Asia
(C) Africa
(D) Europe

11. What does the term “microlith” refer to?
(A) A large carved stone
(B) A tiny, sharp stone tool
(C) A burial artifact
(D) A type of ancient grain

12. What does the term “hunter-gatherer” refer to?
(A) Farmers and herders
(B) Nomadic lifestyle reliant on hunting and foraging
(C) Toolmakers in ancient societies
(D) Religious leaders in early communities

13. What was the main purpose of fire during the Paleolithic period?
(A) Religious ceremonies
(B) Warfare
(C) Cooking and protection
(D) Writing and record-keeping

14. What was the most common material for tools in the Paleolithic era?
(A) Bronze
(B) Stone
(C) Iron
(D) Clay

15. When did humans begin to domesticate plants and animals?
(A) During the Paleolithic era
(B) During the Neolithic era
(C) During the Mesolithic era
(D) During the Iron Age

16. Which animal was likely the first to be domesticated by humans?
(A) Sheep
(B) Dogs
(C) Cattle
(D) Goats

17. What marks the transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period?
(A) The invention of metal tools
(B) Increased reliance on agriculture
(C) The spread of cave art
(D) Use of microlith tools

18. What is the significance of the site of Jericho?
(A) It contains Paleolithic cave art
(B) It is one of the earliest known Neolithic cities
(C) It shows evidence of Mesolithic tools
(D) It is an early Bronze Age settlement

19. What role did the wheel play in Neolithic societies?
(A) Symbol of religious beliefs
(B) Transportation and pottery making
(C) Tool for hunting
(D) Weapon in warfare

20. What is the primary characteristic of the Neolithic period?
(A) Nomadic lifestyle
(B) Creation of complex tools
(C) Farming and permanent settlements
(D) Use of bronze tools