The Copper Age, also known as the Chalcolithic period, marks a transitional phase between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. It began around 4500 BCE and lasted until about 3300 BCE in various regions. During this time, humans started to use copper tools and weapons, which were more effective than stone. This period saw the development of early metallurgy and the rise of complex societies. In the Copper Age, people began to settle in larger communities, leading to advancements in agriculture and trade. Notable archaeological sites, such as those in the Balkans and Mesopotamia, reveal evidence of copper production and the emergence of social hierarchies. The innovations of this era laid the groundwork for the subsequent Bronze Age.