This is the British spelling of paleolithic. American English drops the extra a and writes paleolithic. Same word, same meaning.

This is the British spelling of paleolithic這是paleolithic的英式拼法。 American English drops the extra a and writes paleolithic美式英語會拿掉多的那個a，寫成paleolithic。 Same word, same meaning是同一個字，同一個意思。

It describes the Old Stone Age — the very long early stretch of human history when people used stone tools, long before farming.

It describes the Old Stone Age它指的是舊石器時代 — the very long early stretch of human history when people used stone tools也就是人類歷史很早、很長的一段，人們使用石器工具的時期, long before farming遠早於農業出現之前。

You will see it as an adjective (Palaeolithic tools, the Palaeolithic period) and sometimes as a noun, the Palaeolithic, for that age. The British spelling keeps ae in palaeo-, “old”; American spelling simplifies it to paleo-.

You will see it as an adjective你會看到它當形容詞用 (Palaeolithic tools, the Palaeolithic period)（像Palaeolithic tools、the Palaeolithic period） and sometimes as a noun, the Palaeolithic有時候也當名詞the Palaeolithic用, for that age指那個時代。 The British spelling keeps ae in palaeo-, “old”英式拼法在palaeo-（意思是「舊」）裡保留了ae; American spelling simplifies it to paleo-美式拼法則簡化成paleo-。

In science you will meet both; in British school books, palaeo- is still common.

In science在科學領域, you will meet both兩種拼法你都會遇到; in British school books在英國的教科書裡, palaeo- is still commonpalaeo-這種拼法還是很常見。

Though actually, “Stone Age” in everyday talk is rough. Specialists split that huge stretch into Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. Palaeolithic is the oldest of those.

Though actually不過其實, “Stone Age” in everyday talk is rough日常說的「石器時代」其實講得很籠統。 Specialists split that huge stretch into Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic專家會把那一大段時期分成Palaeolithic（舊石器）、Mesolithic（中石器）、Neolithic（新石器）。 Palaeolithic is the oldest of those Palaeolithic就是這裡面最早的一個。