To which period do pebble tools, choppers, and flakes belong?

Pebble tools, choppers, and flakes are characteristic artifacts associated with the Oldowan industry, which is the oldest known stone tool industry in human history, dating back to around 2.6 million years ago. This period is significant as it marks the beginning of the use of stone tools by early hominins, primarily for tasks such as cutting and processing food. The simplicity and functionality of Oldowan tools made them essential for survival, which helped shape the development of early human behaviors.

The Oldowan tools are typically unrefined and made by striking a hammerstone against a core, creating sharp flakes that could be used for various purposes. This contrasts with later industries, such as the Acheulean, which featured more sophisticated bifacial tools like hand axes, and the Mousterian, associated with Neanderthals and featuring a more advanced retouching technique for crafting tools. The Levallois technique is another later development that involves a prepared core to create specific flake shapes, which emerged much later than the Oldowan. Understanding the Oldowan tools reinforces the timeline of human technological evolution and the progression towards more advanced tool-making techniques in subsequent periods.