By about 40,000 years ago, humans lived in small groups south of the glaciers in many parts of Asia and Europe. By about 22,000 years ago, humans had begun moving into North America.
These early people made and used simple stone weapons and tools, so they are known as Stone Age people. They survived brutal winters by learning how to build fires for warmth and for cooking. Their weapons consisted largely of stone axes and spears. They learned to track and kill large animals and to use every part of the prey, whether for food, clothing, or shelter.
