Mesolithic Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The
Mesolithic (middle stone age) is the period between the
Paleolithic and
Neolithic periods. It began at the end of the
Pleistocene epoch around 10,000 years ago and ended with the introduction of
farming, the date of which varied in each geographical region. In some areas, such as the
Near East farming was already in use by the end of the
Pleistocene and there the Mesolithic is short and poorly defined. In areas with limited glacial impact, the term
epipaleolithic is sometimes preferred. Regions that experienced greater environmental effects as the last
ice age ended have a much more apparent Mesolithic era, lasting millennia. In Northern Europe for example, societies were able to live well on rich food supplies from the marshlands created by the warmer climate. Such conditions produced distinctive human behaviours which are preserved in the material record, such as the
Maglemosian and
Azilian cultures. Such conditions also delayed the coming of the Neolithic until as late as 4000 BC in Northern Europe.
Remains from this period are few and far between, often limited to middens (rubbish heaps which grew over time). In forested areas of the world, the first signs of deforestation have been found, although this would only start in earnest during the Neolithic, when extra space for farming was needed.
The mesolithic is characterized by small composite flint tools (microliths and microburins) in most areas. Fishing tackle, stone adzes and wooden objects such as canoes and bows have been found preserved at some sites.
Mesolithic sites
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