Three-age system: Encyclopedia II - Three-age system - Difficulties

Three-age system - Difficulties

The three age system has been difficult to apply fully outside Europe. Some societies skipped some of the stages or never developed them when their societies didn't need them. Amazonian tribes in South America remain in the Neolithic for example, while there was no Bronze Age south of the Sahara; techonological innovation progressed from stone to iron working.

It also soon became apparent that the switches from one age to another did not happen quickly or decisively. Flint tools remained in use in a limited fashion into the Iron Age in Europe and early metal items often appear in what should technically be the Neolithic.

Although the three age system has been rendered less and less accurate by modern archaeological discoveries, it still remains the bedrock of prehistoric archaeology as the terms have become ingrained in people's minds, including those of archaeologists. Their clarity and explicability mean that the field and the long periods of time involved in prehistoric archaeology can also be more easily conveyed to the public.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Difficulties", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki