During which period did the development of more complex and specialized tools occur?

The development of more complex and specialized tools is attributed to the Upper Paleolithic period. This era, which occurred approximately 50,000 to 12,000 years ago, is marked by significant advancements in human technology and culture. During this time, humans began to create a wide variety of tools that were specifically designed for different purposes, such as hunting, gathering, and processing food.

The tools from the Upper Paleolithic period were often made from materials like bone, antler, and a range of stones, and included innovations like blades, burins, and specialized hunting implements. Additionally, this period is characterized by the emergence of artistic expression, such as cave paintings and carvings, indicating a leap in cognitive and social complexity among Homo sapiens.

While the Lower and Middle Paleolithic periods did see the creation of tools, they were generally more primitive and less specialized compared to those developed later. The Mesolithic period, occurring after the Upper Paleolithic, is significant for advancements in subsistence strategies but does not represent the peak of complex tool-making that is seen in the Upper Paleolithic. Therefore, it is during the Upper Paleolithic that we observe the most dramatic advancements in tool complexity and specialization.