In Europe, the relevant archaeological record is divided into the Middle Paleolithic (prior to around 40,000 years ago) and the Upper Paleolithic (from roughly 40,000 years ago onward), and the difference between the two could not be more striking.

• 在欧洲，相关的考古记录划分成大约四万年以前的旧石器时代中期，与大约四万年前开始的旧石器时代晚期，可是它们的差异极大，令人惊讶。