The Stone Age Period is a period of prehistory that began around 3.3 million years ago and ended around 3, 000 BCE. It is divided into three distinct periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The Neolithic period, which lasted from around 10, 000 to 3, 000 BCE, was characterized by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the use of stone tools. During this period, humans began to settle in permanent villages and create pottery, weave cloth, and build monuments.