A Complete Timeline of The Mesolithic Period | Early Humans Documentary
Summary
TLDRThe Mesolithic era, following the Paleolithic, marked a significant shift in human evolution as the world warmed post-ice age. This period, varying in duration across regions, saw Homo sapiens adapt to new environments with the rise of forests and the decline of megafauna. Humans transitioned to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, utilizing the abundant resources of woodlands and wetlands. Innovations in technology, housing, and art, including the creation of microliths and early pottery, were hallmarks of this age. The Mesolithic concluded with the advent of agriculture, leading to the Neolithic period and the establishment of permanent settlements.
Takeaways
- π The Mesolithic period, also known as the Middle Stone Age, followed the Paleolithic and marked a time of significant cultural and technological advancements for Homo sapiens.
- πΊοΈ The onset of the Mesolithic varied across the globe, with Western Asia entering around 20,000 years ago and Europe around 15,000 years ago.
- π The end of the last ice age led to the extinction of many megafauna, such as mammoths, due to climate change and overhunting by humans.
- π³ The warming climate during the Mesolithic resulted in the spread of forests and wetlands, replacing the open steppes and providing a rich environment for new species to thrive.
- π‘ Mesolithic humans transitioned to a more settled lifestyle, with some coastal communities establishing permanent settlements and advanced housing structures.
- π£ The period saw a shift to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, with people relying on fishing, hunting, and foraging for sustenance.
- π₯ Social structures remained semi-nomadic, with groups tracking animal migrations for hunting and seasonal movements for resource gathering.
- π¨ Artistic expression evolved, with a focus on red ochre in cave paintings, the creation of beads and jewelry, and the development of more complex art forms.
- π οΈ Technological advancements included the creation of microliths, smaller and more delicate stone tools, and the use of materials like birch pitch for chewing gum.
- πΎ The end of the Mesolithic period is marked by the rise of agriculture, as humans began domesticating crops and animals, leading to the Neolithic era.
Q & A
What is the Mesolithic period also known as?
-The Mesolithic period is also known as the middle Stone Age.
What significant change in climate occurred at the end of the last ice age, leading to the Mesolithic period?
-The world experienced a period of relative warming after the end of the last ice age, marking the transition into the Mesolithic period.
Why did the mega-fauna species like mammoths and woolly rhinos decline during the Mesolithic period?
-The decline of mega-fauna species was due to a combination of changing climate conditions that led to the replacement of grassy plains with forests, and over-hunting by early humans.
How did the lifestyle of humans change as they transitioned from the Paleolithic to the Mesolithic period?
-Humans transitioned from nomadic hunting tribes to a more settled hunter-gatherer lifestyle, taking advantage of the abundant woodlands and wetlands for food and resources.
What type of housing did Mesolithic humans build to adapt to their new environment?
-Mesolithic humans built more advanced houses using specially carved wooden posts planted into a sunken floor and thatched roofs for protection against the elements.
How did the social structure of Mesolithic communities differ from those of the Paleolithic period?
-Mesolithic communities remained semi-nomadic, tracking animal migrations for hunting, but some coastal communities established permanent settlements which were larger than inland ones.
What cultural advancements are associated with the Mesolithic period?
-The Mesolithic period saw advancements in art, with a focus on red ochre paintings, the creation of beads and jewelry, and the construction of more complex dwellings and ritual sites.
What is the significance of the 'Caves of Alco goul Harbor' in the context of Mesolithic art?
-The Caves of Alco goul Harbor in Catalonia, Spain, contain one of the most fantastic examples of Mesolithic art, featuring red and black ochre paintings of figures and animals.
How did the practice of burying the dead evolve during the Mesolithic period?
-During the Mesolithic period, early humans began to bury their dead in designated burial grounds, marking a deepening belief in an afterlife and the use of grave goods to accompany the deceased.
What technological advancements in tool-making are attributed to the Mesolithic period?
-The Mesolithic period saw the creation of smaller, more delicately crafted stone tools known as microliths, which were sharper and more effective than the tools from the Paleolithic period.
What is the significance of the end of the Mesolithic period in terms of human cultural evolution?
-The end of the Mesolithic period is marked by the rise of agriculture and the domestication of crops and livestock, leading to the establishment of the first farms and the beginning of the Neolithic period.
Outlines
π Introduction to the Mesolithic Period
The Mesolithic, or middle stone age, followed the Paleolithic and marked a significant period of human evolution. It was a time of relative warming after the last ice age, with Homo sapiens being the only human species remaining. The period varied in its start across different regions, with Western Asia entering around 20,000 years ago and Europe around 15,000 years ago. The video promises to explore the lifestyle, culture, and technological advancements of this era, which was relatively short compared to the Paleolithic, due to the lesser archaeological evidence available.
π³ Environmental and Cultural Shifts in the Mesolithic
The Mesolithic period saw a transition from the mammoth step to a landscape dominated by forests and wetlands, leading to the extinction of many megafauna. This environmental change was accompanied by cultural shifts, as humans adapted to a more settled lifestyle. They became proficient hunter-gatherers, utilizing the abundant resources of the woodlands and wetlands. The period also saw the emergence of semi-permanent settlements, particularly along coastlines, and the development of more advanced housing structures. The end of the Mesolithic is marked by the rise of agriculture and the establishment of the first farms.
π¨ Artistic and Spiritual Developments of the Mesolithic
Culturally, the Mesolithic period was marked by significant advancements in art, with a focus on red ochre and geometric designs representing animals. People created beads, jewelry, and cave paintings, with one notable example being the Caves of Alco in Catalonia, Spain. They also crafted a helmet from deer antlers and showed evidence of sculpture and ritual sites, possibly indicating a belief in an afterlife. The period also saw the first instances of pottery, albeit basic, and the use of microliths, smaller and more delicate stone tools than those of the Paleolithic.
π‘ Technological and Lifestyle Evolution in the Mesolithic
The Mesolithic period was a time of innovation, with the development of microliths, stone scrapers, and knives, which were used for various purposes including clothing and construction. Flint became a primary material for tool-making. The period also saw the first use of chewing gum, made from birch bark pitch. Pottery became more common, with distinct styles emerging in different communities. The Mesolithic ended with the advent of agriculture and the establishment of permanent farms, leading to a shift in human lifestyle and the beginning of the Neolithic period.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Mesolithic
π‘Homo sapiens
π‘Megalafauna
π‘Hunter-gatherer lifestyle
π‘Semi-nomadic
π‘Domestication
π‘Microliths
π‘Red ochre
π‘Megalithic structures
π‘Agriculture
π‘Pottery
Highlights
The Mesolithic period, also known as the Middle Stone Age, followed the Paleolithic and marked a time of significant cultural and technological advancements.
The world entered a period of relative warming after the last ice age, leading to the end of the Megafauna era.
Homo sapiens were the only human species remaining by the Mesolithic, indicating a shift in the human evolutionary landscape.
The Mesolithic period varied in start times across different regions, with Western Asia entering around 20,000 years ago and Europe around 15,000 years ago.
Life during the Mesolithic was characterized by a shift from the harsh conditions of the Paleolithic to a more hospitable, forested environment.
Mesolithic humans adopted a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, taking advantage of the new woodlands and wetlands for food and resources.
Some Mesolithic communities established permanent settlements, especially along coastlines, marking a transition from complete nomadism.
Mesolithic humans developed more advanced housing, using carved wooden posts and thatched roofs for better shelter.
The end of the Mesolithic period is marked by the rise of agriculture and the establishment of the first farms.
Mesolithic art saw a significant shift, with a focus on red ochre and geometric outlines of animals, indicating a rich cultural expression.
The discovery of the 'Ein sacur lovers' sculpture near Bethlehem, Palestine, provides insight into Mesolithic domestic life and artistic skill.
Megalithic structures and the practice of burying the dead in designated graveyards suggest a belief in an afterlife during the Mesolithic.
The use of microliths, smaller and more delicate stone tools, indicates a technological advancement in tool-making.
Mesolithic people were the first to utilize chewing gum, made from birch tree pitch, showcasing their resourcefulness and creativity.
Pottery production began in the Mesolithic, with early pots being used for storage and showing intentional design.
The Mesolithic period ended as humans mastered crop and livestock domestication, leading to the Neolithic period and a new way of life.
Transcripts
following on from the Paleolithic the
vast expanse of time that encircled most
of human evolution throughout the pine
Epoch the world was plunged into a
period of relative warming after the end
of the last ice age known as the
Mesolithic or middle
stoneage the megaphon animals of the
place to scene had all but died out as
the world entered the Mesolithic a
period of time that saw great
advancements in human culture and
Technology by the time the Mesolithic
rolled around the only species of human
left on the globe was Homo sapiens our
very own
species it is important to note however
that different parts of the world
entered the Mesolithic period at
different
times almost all that we know about this
time period focuses on sites discovered
around Eurasia and North
Africa Western Asia is known to have
entered the Mesolithic around 20,000
years ago and progressed to the
Neolithic around 10,000 years ago
European cultures on the other hand are
known to have entered the Mesolithic
15,000 years ago and entered the
Neolithic just 5,000 years
ago in today's video we will be
exploring the facts of the Mesolithic
examining what life was like for early
humans throughout this very short time
span as the time period was much much
thinner and due to the fact we don't
know as much about the Mesolithic as we
do the Paleolithic from an
archaeological standpoint this video
will be slightly shorter than the last
one we will however go into detail about
all aspects of the period the culture
technology and lifestyles of the people
who called this time
home sit back and relax as we take you
on a tour through time to experience the
Mesolithic
period tracking your history through
your family tree is one of the most
enlightening things you can do you can
trace your ancestors Journeys from
generation to generation finding long
lost relatives and getting a better
understanding of who you are and where
you you come
from that's why we're happy to say that
we've partnered with my Heritage for
today's video the number one service for
tracking your family
history they make it easy to build your
family tree discover where you came from
and even find new relatives by searching
the over 19 billion historical documents
to find records of your family
members finding birth records for your
family help helps bring you together
even if you live far apart you can look
up old family records which makes
building your family tree even more
detailed even if you don't know exact
dates and
details the other amazing feature is the
instant discoveries where you can just
click a few times and find new people
and photos to add to your
tree as well as this my Heritage has a
feature on their site to recolor your
old black and white photos or enhance
the ones that have faded with time just
upload your photo and this site will
automatically enhance your images so
they look new
again if you want to find out where you
came from sign up for a 14-day free
trial to explore everything that my
Heritage has to offer including smart
match instant discoveries and more use
our link to get a free trial and get a
50% % discount if you continue the
subscription as the world left the
Paleolithic the world began to warm up
Earth's orientation towards the sun had
slightly shifted in the Millennia prior
to the official end of the reign of
mammoths and Cave Bears and as a result
the huge glaciers that covered the
Northern Hemisphere had begun to retreat
resulting in a warmer climate
this SP disaster for the mammoth step
the planet's largest continuous land
biome known to date the dramatic Rolling
Hills and open Skies that allow giant
herbivores such as woolly rhinos and
woolly mammoths to
evolve as the climate of Eurasia warmed
the glaciers Tha and more rainfall
covered the land that was once covered
in grassy
Plains in place of the step a variety of
habitats associated with wetter more
temperate conditions started to
evolve marshes and lakes started to
permeate the landscape shrouded in Reed
beds and
wetlands much of the wide open expanses
of the mammoth step were replaced with
Lush forests a move that may have helped
kill off the last of the steps
megap as the planes they relied on were
replaced by wood land the mammoths could
no longer cope the world was changing in
a way that was not weighted in their
favor this combined with over hunting
from early humans is thought to have
been the reason so many megaphon species
died out or had begun to die out by the
start of the
Mesolithic so as the world progressed
into the Mesolithic it would have become
much more recognizable ible as the one
we live in today The Verdant green
Woodlands covering much of Mainland
Europe evolved during this time allowing
familiar creatures such as deer rodents
and woodland birds to
thrive the humans that had once
struggled to survive the harsh winters
of the open Mammoth step were plunged
into a world that in comparison seemed
to cradle them life in the warm Forest
almost void of super Predators was
undoubtedly a preferable life to many of
the forthcoming generations of the
Mesolithic as human beings boldly
progressed from the nomadic hunting
tribes of the Paleolithic to the warm
forests of the Mesolithic they underwent
a series of important lifestyle changes
that would impact human behavior for
Millennia to
follow the the abundance of woodlands
and wetlands provided these people with
ample resources to practice a fully
fledged hunter gatherer lifestyle living
not only from organized tribal hunting
but on the fruits and nuts of the forest
which were collected and stored at their
places of
residence a group of Mesolithic Hunters
would have been just as much at home
spearing fish from the rivers of Europe
as they would chasing deer through the
forest
or collecting apples and pears from the
Trees of the
woodlands despite the Simplicity of
their new found Lifestyles their social
structures and hierarchical systems
amidst the dwellings of Mesolithic
humans were not particularly
complex these people remained
semi-nomadic and were able to track the
movements of animals on their migrations
in order to find the best hunting sites
year round
some communities specifically along
coastlines did manage to plant down the
first permanent settlements which were
typically larger than the ones found
Inland or by fresh
water it is thought that some Mesolithic
Hunters would Branch off from these
larger Coastal settlements to seasonally
hunt Inland finding food to keep their
communities thriving over the
winter people would also leave the
settlements to find Partners likely in
order to keep the genan pool diverse to
prevent any conditions associated with
interbreeding young adults when ready to
Embark would leave their settlements in
order to join another band of semi
Nomads contributing their effort to jobs
around the camp as they went it is
thought that some of these people were
able to travel huge distances across
Eurasia
it is around the Mesolithic that humans
started to build more advanced houses to
keep them sheltered against the
elements unlike the simple Huts that
were propped up with sticks and animal
hides in the Paleolithic these people
had begun to utilize specially carved
wooden posts which were planted into a
sunken
floor a thatched roof most often made
from straw or other plant matter mixed
with mud
protected the inhabitants from
rain the end of the Mesolithic is marked
by the rise of Agriculture and it is
thought that some of the permanent
settlements set up with Advanced housing
such as these would have possibly been
the sites where the first Farms were
established throughout the Mesolithic
humans had begun a long and convoluted
trial and error process into
domesticating animals something that is
thought to have begun in these early
Eurasian
settlements culture also came Leaps and
Bounds throughout the
Mesolithic in the Paleolithic nomadic
tribes used ogres to paint animals and
people on the sides of cave walls a
practice that continued and developed
into the
Mesolithic art from the Mesolithic
period tends to focus more heavily on
the use of red ochres which perhaps bore
a special significance or symbolism in
these early
communities simple geometric outlines of
the animals that shared the land with
these groups of people were painted on
the walls of rock faces or caves with
the red painted shapes of deer wolves
and bears present on Mesolithic
rocks these people were not restricted
to cave painting however
they created beads out of stone and
other natural matter and painted these
stones in the same red ochre used to
paint their walls they carved puncture
marks into the shells and Teeth of
animals and wore them as
jewelry one Cavite from the Mesolithic
in what is now Catalonia Spain known as
the caves of Alco goul Harbor one of the
most fantastic examples of Mesolithic
art in existence
distance the cave is a basic Rock
shelter on the northeastern coastlines
of the country close to the border with
France on the walls of the cave in red
and black ochre have been imprinted the
outlines of 45
figures various events can be seen
taking place across the work but the
most iconic and well represented is a
great dance in the middle of the
artwork nine of of the 45 figures who
are all perceived to be women are shown
dancing around what archaeologists have
interpreted as a smaller male figure it
is thought that it might represent some
sort of ancient mating
ritual above the figures lie the
geometric outlines of Spanish animals
which can be interpreted as deer boar
cows and
ibexes perhaps the most exciting
creative find from the Mesolithic is a
basic Helmet or headdress constructed
from the antlers of a red
deer the Garment features two evenly
sized holes at the Forefront of the
headdress with two Spike antlers
branching out to the
sky this object was found at Star Car
near the seaside town of scarra in North
Yorkshire
UK there is also also substantial
evidence of sculpture carving the most
well-known Mesolithic sculpture found
near Bethlehem Palestine is known as the
Ein sacur lovers and is believed to show
two figures in a loving
embrace it is made out of carved calside
Stone and is thought to have been a
domestic decoration that was put on
display in a
settlement on a larger scale there is
also evidence for ritually constructed
sites of astronomical significance areas
where megaliths were arranged to mirror
the phases of the moon acting is a basic
calendar some of these sites are similar
in form to the world famous Heritage
sight Stone Henge in Southern
England the ritual belief in an
afterlife something that was first
established in the middle Paleolithic
was deepened in the Mesolithic
early humans across Eurasia had begun to
bury their dead in designated burial
grounds Proto graveyards
even these burials were basic and Graves
were typically shallow and there is even
some evidence of
cremation some of the Dead were ritually
buried with grave Goods possibly
belongings they treasured in their
mortal lives these include small figures
of animals and humans symbolic and
perhaps Comfort possessions as well as
jewelry and stone
tools some humans in the Mesolithic were
even buried in large tombs burial sites
made from megalithic stones that were
carved and structured to resemble a
large walk-in
grave many of the stone tools that were
crafted throughout the Mesolithic are
typically much smaller in size and more
delicately crafted than the larger
bulkier hand axes of the
Paleolithic these smaller stone tools
were known as microliths and were often
sharper and more effective than the
tools that preceded
them still at sites discovered in what
are today the countries of Ireland and
Portugal the people seem to have been
using larger microlithic stone tools
still delicately crafted but more
similar in size to those from the
Paleolithic people from the Mesolithic
period used a variety of stone scrapers
Choppers and basic knives in order to
cut and chop its
substances scrapers were likely used to
turn animal hides into Basic clothing
the same material that would be used to
line the temporary tents of hunter
gatherer campsites Flint became a staple
of tool structure around this time and
it was typically harvested in bulk taken
back to camps where people could fashion
their Tools in their
Huts amongst the stone tools collected
above archaeologists have also
discovered stone buens similar to those
used by early humans in the
Paleolithic these tools were used for
carving patterns or building struct
structures into wood and Bone acting as
a chisel likee object in either art or
construction Stone byes also became more
common place used as sharp knives with a
blade that ran down the
middle it may come as a surprise to find
out that people from the Mesolithic were
the first to utilize chewing gum crafted
from the pitch found within the bark of
birch
trees this gum may have been used purely
for Taste purposes as it is unlikely
that it was
swallowed one piece of chewed gum that
was found in southern Denmark from the
end of the Mesolithic has even left
traces of the chew's last meal the
individual was a woman who prior to
chewing the Birch gum enjoyed a meal of
duck meat and
hazelnuts between 9,000 and 5,000 years
AO go some Mesolithic cultures
specifically those centered around
Europe Siberia and North Africa started
to produce
Pottery many of the pots discovered from
the Mesolithic are crude and basic in
their designs often asymmetrical and
patchy still they do show evidence of
intentional pottery making with a flared
rim to the opening and an intentionally
designed base to ensure the pot did not
fall over individual Styles can be seen
in each of these pot making
communities these pods were likely used
to store dried foods water or household
tools the Mesolithic was a relatively
short period in the history of human
evolution lasting a mere 10,000
years the entry point into the following
Neolithic period is marked not by
geographical changes but by cultural
changes in the lifestyles of the humans
who lived at this
time the Mesolithic came to an end when
communities across the world started
mastering the domestication of crops and
livestock giving way to the world's
first constantly functional
Farms humans without the need to hunt
opted to stay in the same areas where
the soil was first fertile and they were
close to a reliable water
source Mesolithic communities soon
became marginalized by these new
technological Revelations and soon their
way of life had been
converted the Neolithic however was not
without its challenges and the world
would soon be forever changed with the
Advent of these early humans embracing
modern ways of
living
Browse More Related Video
Stone Age | Prehistoric age | Paleolithic | Mesolithic | Neolithic | Stone Age Humans
The Neolithic Age Explained: Global History Review
Origins of agriculture | World History | Khan Academy
Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology in the World
STS Lesson #2 with MUKBANG: Early Human History
L'evoluzione umana: la specie che cambiΓ² il mondo - Puntata 10
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)