Mousterian Technology

• Mousterian technology appeared about 200,000 years ago and is associated with Neanderthal man. Neanderthals made their stone tools from flakes removed from a prepared stone core. This allowed the toolmaker to fashion several tools of a similar shape from one stone. Mousterian tools included scrapers, awls and spears. Neanderthals used their tools for hunting large game, sewing simple clothes, and building shelters.
  
  

Aurignacian Technology

• Aurignacian technology developed in Europe about 35,000 years ago and is associated with anatomically modern humans. Aurignacian tools, created from slender blades rather than broad flakes. Researchers consider them more diverse and sophisticated than tools made by previous species such as Neanderthals or Homo erectus. Aurignacian tools included knives, awls, scrapers and small chisels called burins. Aurignacian people also worked antler, ivory and bone into fishhooks, harpoons, sewing needles, spear tips and tool handles.
  
  

Clovis Technology

• Clovis technology was first discovered near Clovis, New Mexico. Researchers associated them with the paleo-indians, or ancestors of the American Indians who flourished in North America towards the end of the last ice age about 13,000 to 15,000 years ago. Clovis technology developed large, leaf-shaped spear points featuring fluted edges and grooves on each side. According to studies of protein residue found on Clovis points found in Boulder, Colorado in 2009, camels and horses were among the game hunted by ice age paleo-indian hunters.
  
  

Folsom Technology

• Folsom technology, named for Folsom, New Mexico, developed in North America about 10,000 years ago after large ice age animals such as mammoths, North American camels, horses and giant sloths went extinct. Folsom points were smaller than Clovis points and featured a concave base and grooves on each side. The first Folsom point, discovered in 1927, was found embedded in the remains of a bison from a species that went extinct about 10,000 years ago. This helped substantiate claims that the ancestors of the American Indians arrived in North America at least 10,000 years ago.