Epipaleolithic

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The Epipaleolithic or "peripheral old stone age" is a term used for the hunter-gatherer cultures that existed after the end of the last Ice Age, before the Neolithic.

The term is sometimes confused with Mesolithic, and the two are sometimes used as synonyms. Yet, when a distinction is made, Mesolithic is used for those cultures that present a trend towards the agricultural practices of Neolithic (like the Natufian culture of Western Asia) and Epipaleolithic is meant to imply that no trend towards agriculture exists (like European post-glacial cultures: Azilian, Sauveterrian, Tardenoisian, Maglemosian, etc.)

Alfonso Moure says in this respect:

In the language of Prehistorical Archaeology, the most extended trend is to use the term "Epipaleolithic" for the industrial complexes of the post-glacial hunter-gatherer groups. Inversely, those that are in transitional ways towards artificial production of food are inscribed in the "Mesolithic"

Epipalaeolithic hunter-gatherers made relatively advanced tools made from small flint or obsidian blades, known as microliths that were hafted in wooden implements. They were generally nomadic.

References

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Last updated on Thursday March 06, 2008 at 00:00:16 PST (GMT -0800)
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