旧石器

• Reading: きゅうせっき
• Romaji: kyūsekki
• Kanji breakdown: 旧 (kyū/furu) — old, former; 石 (seki/ishi) — stone; 器 (ki/utsuwa) — tool, vessel
• Pronunciation: /kjɯː.sek.ki/

Meaning

Palaeolithic; of or relating to the Old Stone Age, the earliest period of human prehistory characterised by the use of chipped stone tools.

A historical and archaeological noun used primarily in 旧石器時代 (Palaeolithic Age), covering roughly 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BCE. In Japan, Palaeolithic remains have been found at sites such as Iwajuku in Gunma Prefecture, though the period is less prominently featured in popular culture than the subsequent Jōmon era. Used in academic, educational, and museum contexts.

Examples

1. 旧石器時代の遺跡から石器が多数発見された。 Numerous stone tools were discovered at a Paleolithic-era archaeological site.
2. 旧石器人の生活は狩猟と採集を中心としていた。 The lives of Paleolithic people centered on hunting and gathering.
3. 日本では旧石器時代の遺物がいくつかの遺跡で確認されている。 In Japan, Paleolithic artifacts have been confirmed at several archaeological sites.

Usage Guide

Context: archaeology, history, education, museums

Tone: academic

Origin & History

Compound of 旧 (old, former), 石 (stone), and 器 (tool, vessel). The term is a Meiji-era translation of the Western archaeological concept 'Palaeolithic', constructed to match the parallel term 新石器 (Neolithic).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient (prehistoric)

Generation: Students and academics

Social background: Academic