We explain what the Mesolithic is, its importance and characteristics. In addition, the climatic changes that occurred at this time.
During the Mesolithic the first settlements of sedentary populations appeared.
What is the Mesolithic?
The Mesolithic was a period of prehistory that It included the transition between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The three periods made up the Stone Age.
The word Mesolithic comes from the Greek meso which means “between” and lithos which means “stone”, thus referring to the “Middle Stone Age”.
This period is used in the study of those prehistoric societies that developed changes in their organization and showed elements of transition from a predatory economy to a production economyIt can be located between 10,000 and 6,000 BC, but the periodization changes in the study of different cultures.
During the Mesolithic, Societies were characterized by improvements in stone-working techniques.in polished and chipped form. In addition, the first traces of population settlements and funeral rituals date from this period, in which traits of social differentiation can be observed.
See also: Early Man
Use of the term Mesolithic
The term Mesolithic (meaning “middle stone”) is used by some archaeologists to refer to an intermediate period between the Paleolithic (“old stone”) and the Neolithic (“new stone”). This introduction to the classical periodization of the “Stone Age” incorporates the idea that the production economy of Neolithic societies was already underway at a preliminary stage.
The Mesolithic period can be observed in prehistoric cultures of Europe, the African Sahara, the Indochinese peninsula and in some American cultures. Other specialists prefer to use other specific terms about the culture under study to refer to the same transition process. For example, for studies of American prehistory the name “Archaic Period” is often used.
Furthermore, there were prehistoric cultures that did not themselves drive the economic changes that led to food production and, later, sedentary lifestyles. These cultures developed agriculture later and as a consequence of contact with other peasant groups. For these societies, the term “Epipaleolithic” is used.
Characteristics of the Mesolithic
The Mesolithic period was characterized by:
- The transitionIt was a period of transformation between the hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic stage and the farmers of the Neolithic stage.
- The work of stone. The innovation in stone work was highlighted, such as polishing and elaborate carving, also called microlith, which consists of the use of a stone one centimeter long, elaborately carved so that it has a sharp edge on one of its sides.
- The sedentary lifeThe first vestiges of buildings and population settlements date from this period.
- Funerary rites. The first traces of grave goods belonging to people who had power or a high social status also come from these societies. The bodies of the deceased were buried with offerings or valuable personal accessories, which suggests that spiritual ceremonies or rites were practiced.
- The painting. Although cave art existed during the Paleolithic, in this stage human figures emerged, as well as animals, painted inside the caves. The scenes show groups of humans practicing hunting or some ritual.
- UtensilsEvidence of ceramic work was found, such as vessels decorated with simple geometric lines, polished and perforated rocks used as accessories and sharp stones that served as knives.
Mesolithic climate changes
In the Mesolithic, we went from extremely cold temperatures to a more temperate climate.
During the Mesolithic the last ice age occurred, which corresponds to a geological process characterized by extremely cold temperatures. Gradually, the climate became increasingly temperate, allowing for a greater variety of animal and plant life forms.
As a consequence of climate change, human beings were able to settle in certain territories for an indeterminate period of time without the need to migrate in winter. In addition to the climatic conditions most suitable for human life, increased the variety of plant speciesfirst with the formation of broad steppes and then of leafy forests.
The fauna was influenced by the migration of various species towards more northern areas, due to the better conditions for reproduction and the greater availability of food through hunting or the variety of plants.
Archaeological evidence of the Mesolithic
One of the main cultures of the Mesolithic was found at the archaeological site of Lepenski Vir (Serbia).
There is archaeological evidence of different Mesolithic cultures:
- In Africa, material remains from the Ibero-Mauritanian (in Morocco), Capsian (in Tunisia) and Wiltonian (in South Africa) cultures have been found.
- In Europe, there are findings from the Ahrensburgian cultures (in Germany), Asturian (in Spain), Azilian (in France), Balkan (in Serbia), Swiderian (in Poland) and Scandinavian societies of Kongemosa and Erteböllian.
- In Asia, evidence survived of the Natufian (in the Levantine Mediterranean region), Jōmon (in Japan), Sarai Nahar (in India), and Yunnan (in China) cultures.
Continue with: Neolithic Revolution
References
- Fernández Martínez, VM (2007). Prehistory. The long road of humanity. Alliance Publishing.
- Fernandez Vega, AM, Cabrera Valdes, V. and Muñoz Amilibia, AM (2008). Prehistory. National University of Distance Education.
- Eiroa, JJ (2000). Notions of General Prehistory. Ed. Ariel History.
- “Mesolithic” in Britannica
- “Mesolithic cultures” in Science direct
- “The Mesolithic Period” in Lumen learning
- “Göbekli Tepe” in Traveler’s Diary
- “Göbekli Tepe: the secrets of the first human sanctuary” in Infobae
- “Mesolithic art” at Visual arts cork