The old stone age or the palaeolithic

The Paleolithic, the first and the longest epoch in the history of humanity was dated between 200,000 and 10,000 BCE.

From a geological perpective, the Paleolithic is related to Pleistocene or the glacial period of the Quaternary.  At this time, important changes took place both in geomorphological structure of the Earth and its flora and fauna. The material culture from this epoch, reflected by the archaeological excavations, passed over three different levels of evolution: inferior palaeolithic, middle palaeolithic and superior palaeolithic.

During the inferior palaeolithic, the anthropogenesis process started and the work had acheived an important role.

There appeared the need and the wish to produce tools. The paleolithic people, having primitive tools and a rudimentary work, less productive, were divided in bands.  During the superior paleolithic the entirely formed person seems to appear (Homo sapiens fosilis).

In the first fall, the visitor gets knowledge about the character and the specific of the old stone age on the land of Hunedoara county.

The oldest archaeological piece discovered in this area was dated to approximately 150,000 years ago and belongs to the middle palaeolithic, unlike other regions in the country where paleolithic objects were found with an older age.

In the first two glass cases, the phalanges of the primitive human beings discovered in Ohaba-Ponor cave, are presented together with many silex tools specific to the musterian culture that is documented in this area with the discoveries from the settlements situated in the Ohaba-Ponor and Nandru caves. The next five glass cases include a rich lithic inventory made with the splinter carving technique: prismatic or piramidal regulate from nucleus, scrapers and piercers, as well as a fantastic fossil rests from hot and cold climates, found together with products of human activity.

Parts fromthe skeleton of a cave bear are exposed (Ursus spelaeus) as well as two molars and fragmented bones of mamoth (Elephas primigenius), horse bones (Equus caballus fossiles), aurochs (Bison priscus) etc.

Four slides presenting the actual entrance of Ohaba-Ponor cave, its plan (on which vestiges, a momoth and a cave bear are marked) and the reproduction of some drawing represents an auxilliar material with great relevance for the comprehension of this period of human evolution.

Four slides which preent the current entrance of Ohaba-Ponor cave, the cave's plan (that marks all teh places where, through systematic reseraches, have been discovered archaeological bestiges belonging to the primitive man, a mamoth and a cave bear) and the reproduction of some rupestral drawings, make up an auxilliary material of a great importance of understanding this period in the evolution of human society.