The last part of the palaeolithic stage of development in which Cro-Magnon and other late ice age modern Homo sapiens developed a number of sophisticated stone tool making traditions including the Magdalenian. This was the height of technical sophistication during the Old Stone Age. The Upper palaeolithic in Europe began about 40,000 years ago and ended around 10,000 years ago. Technological developments leading to the Upper palaeolithic may have begun somewhat earlier in Africa.