The Lower Palaeolithic is the most remote period in prehistory. In Tautavel (Roussillon in northern Catalonia), remains of homo erectus dating back between 450,000 and 300,000 years have been found. Fragments of stone tools of the same age or even older have been found in some parts of Catalonia. These humans survived off hunting, gathering and carrion. They lived in caves and built shelters in open country. They had few tools: pebbles and slivers of stone for cutting and carving.