During which epoch did the first stone tools emerge?

The emergence of the first stone tools is associated with the Late Pliocene epoch, which occurred approximately 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago. During this time, early hominins began to develop and utilize simple stone tools, marking a significant milestone in human evolution and technological advancement. This period laid the groundwork for later tool-making developments that would become increasingly sophisticated.

The other epochs mentioned do not align with the timeline for the appearance of the earliest stone tools. The Early Miocene, which spans from about 23 to 16 million years ago, primarily predates the evolution of hominins. The Late Cretaceous epoch, occurring from about 100 to 66 million years ago, is known for the dominance of dinosaurs and would not include human ancestors or their tool-making activities. Lastly, the Early Quaternary epoch, starting around 2.6 million years ago, represents a later phase in human evolution where more advanced tools were being developed, rather than the initial emergence of stone tools. Thus, the Late Pliocene is the correct epoch in which the first stone tools emerged.