| Revision as of 10:44, 15 May 2004 view sourceAdamsan (talk | contribs)5,473 edits added bandkeramik culture← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:42, 15 May 2004 view source Yak (talk | contribs)1,330 editsm fixed linkNext edit → | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| </table> | </table> | ||
| The '''Mesolithic''' (middle stone age) is the period between the ] and ] periods. It began at the end of the ] epoch around 10,000 years ago and ended with the introduction of ], the date of which varied in each geographical region. In some areas, such as the ] farming was already in use by the end of the ] and there the Mesolithic is short and poorly defined. In areas with limited glacial impact, the term ] is sometimes preferred. Regions that experienced greater environmental effects as the last ] 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 ] and later ] cultures. Such conditions also delayed the coming of the Neolithic until as late as 4000 BC. | The '''Mesolithic''' (middle stone age) is the period between the ] and ] periods. It began at the end of the ] epoch around 10,000 years ago and ended with the introduction of ], the date of which varied in each geographical region. In some areas, such as the ] farming was already in use by the end of the ] and there the Mesolithic is short and poorly defined. In areas with limited glacial impact, the term ] is sometimes preferred. Regions that experienced greater environmental effects as the last ] 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 ] and later ] cultures. Such conditions also delayed the coming of the Neolithic until as late as 4000 BC. | ||
| Remains from this period are few and far between, often limited to ]s (rubbish heaps which grew over time). In forested areas of the world, the first signs of ] have been found, although this would only start in earnest during the ], when extra space for farming was needed. | Remains from this period are few and far between, often limited to ]s (rubbish heaps which grew over time). In forested areas of the world, the first signs of ] have been found, although this would only start in earnest during the ], when extra space for farming was needed. | ||
Revision as of 16:42, 15 May 2004
This time period is part of thePleistocene epoch. |
|
Pleistocene |
|
Holocene |
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 later Linearbandkeramic cultures. Such conditions also delayed the coming of the Neolithic until as late as 4000 BC.
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
- Francthi in Greece
- Lepenski Vir in Hungary
- Star Carr in the United Kingdom