Mezolitik

The Mezolitik, also known as the Middle Stone Age, represents a period in human prehistory that bridges the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. It is generally considered to have begun after the end of the last Ice Age, around 10,000 BCE, and lasted until the advent of agriculture and settled village life, which marks the beginning of the Neolithic period. This period is characterized by significant environmental and ecological changes as the world warmed and glaciers receded, leading to new flora and fauna.

Human societies during the Mezolitik adapted to these changing landscapes. They developed more sophisticated tool technologies, often characterized by smaller, more finely worked stone tools called microliths, which were frequently hafted onto bone or wood to create composite tools like arrows, spears, and sickles. This technological advancement allowed for more efficient hunting and gathering. Evidence suggests an increased reliance on a wider range of food resources, including fish, shellfish, birds, and a variety of plant matter, indicating a more diverse subsistence strategy compared to the purely large-game hunting focus of the earlier Paleolithic.

Settlement patterns also shifted. While still largely nomadic or semi-nomadic, Mezolitik peoples often established more temporary or seasonal camps, sometimes near coastlines, rivers, or other resource-rich areas. There is some evidence of increased social complexity and perhaps the beginnings of territoriality in certain regions. The Mezolitik period is crucial for understanding the transition to settled life and the development of human cultures in response to dynamic environmental conditions.