For a good introduction to Archaeology read Invitation to Archaeology by James Deetz. Archaeology has divided the Quaternary period up into ages that reflect the production of different tools. The oldest is the Paleolithic age which stretches back into the Pleistocene to almost 2 million years ago with the first crude tools. Here man made tools, like spears and arrow heads, out of stones. Men were hunters and gatherers.
Archaeologists divide the Paleolithic into the lower, middle, and upper periods.
The Upper Paleolithic is from 35,000 to 10,000 BC where the Holocene epoch starts in geology. During the Paleolithic there are four major glacial advances and retreats. During this time there is the domestication of animals and crops of wheat and barley. This age marks the beginning of permanent settlements. This marks the beginning use of copper.