mésolithique

The mésolithique, or Mesolithic, is the archaeological term for the middle phase of the Stone Age, bridging the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic. It is mainly applied to Europe, where regional chronologies distinguish the Mesolithic from earlier and later periods; in other regions the interval may be described as Epipaleolithic or Late Stone Age. In French archaeology, the term mésolithique is used to refer to this transitional era.

Chronology and environment: In European contexts, the Mesolithic generally falls after the last glacial maximum, roughly 12,000 to 6,000 BCE, with regional variation. Warmer climates and rising forests produced a broad-spectrum foraging economy that included terrestrial and aquatic resources. The period is marked by adaptations to local environments, from rivers and lakes to coastal zones.

Technology and economy: Toolkits emphasize microliths—small flaked blades set into hafts—alongside bone, antler, and wooden tools such as harpoons, hooks, burins, and composite implements. There is evidence of long-distance exchange and coastal or riverine adaptations, with increasing use of boats in some areas. Many groups were hunter-gatherers with seasonal or semi-sedentary settlements, exploiting a diverse range of resources.

Sites and culture: The Mesolithic is documented across Europe through a variety of sites, including those in Britain that preserve wooden platforms, bone and antler implements, and rich faunal assemblages. Portable art, ornaments, and ritual objects occur in multiple regions, reflecting social practices and symbolic behavior, with substantial regional variation driven by climate and resource availability.

Transition to Neolithic: The Mesolithic ends with the spread of farming and domestication in many regions, giving rise to Neolithic lifeways characterized by settled agriculture, pottery, and increasingly complex social and economic systems.