Mousterian
Mousterian is a stone tool industry of the Middle Paleolithic, associated primarily with Neanderthals in Europe and western Asia, with related assemblages found in North Africa and the Levant. The name derives from Le Moustier, a site in southwestern France where Neanderthal remains and Mousterian tools were first described in the 19th century. Chronology typically spans roughly 160,000 to 40,000 years ago, overlapping with later human migrations in some regions.
Technologies emphasize prepared-core methods, especially Levallois and related techniques, aimed at producing flakes of predetermined size
Geographically diverse, Mousterian assemblages reflect adaptation to varied environments, from caves to open landscapes. While Neanderthals
Study of Mousterian informs debates on Neanderthal cognition, social organization, and technological transmission. Ongoing excavations and