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 and shape. A core feature is the recycling of core fragments into advantageous tools. Toolkits usually include scrapers and denticulates, with retouched flakes and occasionally points or blades. Regional variants exist, but the core strategy centers on efficient flake production rather than a single fixed tool type.

Geographically diverse, Mousterian assemblages reflect adaptation to varied environments, from caves to open landscapes. While Neanderthals are the principal makers, some sites in the Near East and North Africa also display Mousterian technologies, illustrating broader human-lineage experimentation during the Middle Paleolithic.

Study of Mousterian informs debates on Neanderthal cognition, social organization, and technological transmission. Ongoing excavations and new dating methods continue to refine its chronology and regional diversity, highlighting the complexity of Middle Paleolithic cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa.