new stone age
C1Academic, Historical, Informal (in its metaphorical use)
Definition
Meaning
A term for the later part of the Stone Age, characterized by the development of agriculture, polished stone tools, and settled communities.
Used metaphorically to describe a person, place, or thing perceived as extremely primitive, outdated, or lacking modern technology.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical term in archaeology and anthropology (often capitalized: New Stone Age). Its metaphorical use is informal and often derogatory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in technical meaning. Metaphorical use is equally understood.
Connotations
Technical use is neutral; metaphorical use is pejorative, implying backwardness.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language. Technical use appears in relevant fields. Metaphorical use is occasional in informal speech/media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the New Stone Ageduring the New Stone Agea New Stone Age settlementa New Stone Age artefactVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Informal/Figurative] Living in the new stone age (i.e., being very out of date).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in a metaphorical, derogatory sense to criticise outdated technology or practices: 'Their IT system is from the new stone age.'
Academic
Common in archaeology, anthropology, and history textbooks/articles to denote the Neolithic period.
Everyday
Rare in literal sense. Occasionally used figuratively and informally to describe something very old-fashioned.
Technical
Standard term in archaeology and prehistory, synonymous with Neolithic.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- They discovered a New Stone Age burial site in Wiltshire.
- The museum has a fantastic New Stone Age collection.
American English
- The dig uncovered a New Stone Age settlement in Ohio.
- This is a classic New Stone Age tool design.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- People in the New Stone Age started to farm.
- They lived in the New Stone Age.
- The New Stone Age began around 12,000 years ago.
- New Stone Age people built houses from wood and stone.
- The transition to the New Stone Age, or Neolithic, marked the advent of systematic agriculture.
- Archaeologists are debating the causes of social stratification in New Stone Age communities.
- The symbolic artefacts from the New Stone Age suggest complex ritual practices and belief systems.
- Metaphorically describing a company's processes as 'New Stone Age' highlights a crippling resistance to digital innovation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'NEW stone' = polished, improved stone tools, and NEW ways of living (farming, villages). Contrast with OLD Stone Age (Palaeolithic) of hunter-gatherers.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HISTORICAL PERIOD IS A CONTAINER (for events/cultures); BACKWARDNESS/PRIMITIVENESS IS THE DISTANT PAST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate word-for-word as 'новый каменный век'. Use the established historical term 'неолит'. The figurative use in English ('It's the new stone age here!') is an idiom and would sound odd if translated literally into Russian in most contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation in technical writing (should be 'New Stone Age'). Using it interchangeably with 'Stone Age' without specifying it's the later Neolithic part. Confusing it with the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'New Stone Age' a synonym for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonymous terms in archaeology and history.
Yes, when used as the proper name for the historical period (like 'New Stone Age revolution'), it is typically capitalised. In informal metaphorical use, it often is not.
The Bronze Age, when humans learned to smelt and work with metal.
Informally, yes. Saying 'Your phone is from the new stone age!' is a humorous, hyperbolic way to say it is very outdated. However, it is pejorative.