Mesolithic
(10,000-5,500 BP)
Topics covered in this section:
Introduction
The Mesolithic is a critical period in European history. It was a time
when social classes emerged and agricultural economics were adopted. Man
had to learn to alter the natural environment to suit his own needs.
There was an increase in the diversity of site types, from the simple
campsite and butchering sites to the massive settlement complexes that
hosted large groups of people. And "marriage partners" contributed to the
genetic interchange between communities.
Difficulty Assigning Dates
Assigning a date to the "fuzzy" transition period from the Paleolithic
to the Mesolithic is somewhat arbitrary. A date of 10,000 BP is often
chosen, but there is NO distinct "line" in the archaeological record.
Instead, the record shows a pattern of continuous behavioral
change as foragers exploited the ever-changing landscapes that appear
between the two eras.
Within the Mesolithic, however, a more definite boundary exists
between early and late Mesolithic, which can be placed at 8,000 BP.
Prior to this date, we see a marked increase in population. After this
date, we see a marked decline in apparent population. Of course, the
decline might reflect a change in the vegetational diversity or a
change in settlement patterns instead of fewer people.
Critical Period
The Mesolithic is one of the most critical periods in European history.
At the end of the Pleistocene, about 10,000 BP, Stone Age humans were
living in a manner that had not changed in essence for about 30,000 years;
that is, since the arrival of the first biologically modern humans in
Europe.
Stone Age groups were originally characterized by an egalitarian social
organization, coupled with a highly mobile lifestyle. Within the 5000-odd
years of the Mesolithic, however, three irreversible events occurred that
underscore the developments of later history:
- Ranked societies appeared, giving rise to social classes. Divisions
existed between the leaders and the followers.
- Agricultural economics were adopted, giving rise to a more sedentary,
less mobile population.
- Humans began to interfere with, and dramatically alter, the natural
environment. Forests had to be cleared to make way for farmland.
Dramatic Climatic Changes
The European climate changed dramatically at the end of the most recent
Ice Age, which also ended the Paleolithic. Ice sheets began their final
retreat and, as they thawed, vast quantities of water, formerly trapped in
the ice sheets, was released.
Sea levels rose, flooding many areas and spawning flood legends. It's
easy to imagine that folk memories recalled a time when there were large
hunting lands that had now become drowned by the sea.
During this period, the Black Sea got its final shape and Great Britain
became an island.
Everywhere, dense forests fanned out over former prairies.
Settlements
As mentioned above, we see a significant increase in population during
the early Mesolithic. Not only is this an increase in numbers of people,
but in their density as well. Though still small by today's standards, we
see population densities between 0.005 and 0.5 people per square kilometer.
However, that still leaves the landscape pretty much empty of human
occupation.
So where did these people live? Where were their settlements?
Clearings and Open Spaces
Bands of humans settled in natural clearings and open spaces, which
were situated primarily near riverbanks and lake shores, at the natural
breaks in the forests. Mesolithic foragers gave us the stereotype of the
hunter-gatherer that is so often recorded in the ethnographic record.
They possessed an immense store of knowledge about their natural
environment, the habits of various forms of game animals, and most
important, the effects of the changing seasons.
They generally organized their subsistence activities in such a manner
as to fully exploit the natural resources that were "in season." And they
guarded against the unpredictable, such as the failure of a migratory
resource to arrive on time. They also took advantage of any good fortune
that came their way, such as a lucky find of a carcass.
Diverse Site Types
The archaeological record indicates there was an increase in the
diversity of site types during the Mesolithic, such as:
- Small campsites, which represent a single occupation by a small group
of hunters for perhaps just a few hours.
- Large settlement complexes with multiple living spaces, which indicate
a year-round occupation by large groups of people, with multi-family
hearths forming the centerpiece of some living spaces.
- Hunting and butchering sites located away from the main living areas.
- Raw material extraction sites where workers mined the raw materials
needed to manufacture tools or to craft various kinds of ornamentation.
- Specialized activity sites, such as gathering spots for women to do
the laundry, flint knapping sites (to keep sharp chips out of living
areas), or sites devoted to the training of hunters.
- Sites set aside for periodic gatherings of the various clans.
Social Structure
Speculation about the nature of Mesolithic social life is easy, but
finding hard evidence is more difficult. However, some assumptions can
be based on the archaeological record and are therefore more likely.
At the base of the social hierarchy is the family unit. For the greater
part of the year, families would have congregated in close proximity,
forming groups ranging in size from 25 to 100 individuals.
Interconnecting networks between family groups in different settlements
extended over extensive regions. These networks would have expanded as
young people left "home" to settle in their in-law's "home" settlement.
Contact between groups and individuals in the network would have been
strengthened by visiting or periodic gatherings. These gatherings would
have served to promote information and technology exchange, trade goods,
and the selection of marriage partners.
Romanian Archaeology
There are at least two Mesolithic sites investigated in Romania: the
Carcea Culture and the Pre-Cucuteni Culture.
Danube Script
But first, let's spend a few minutes talking about a script that
appeared some 2,000 years earlier than any other known writing. The
so-called Danube Script appeared in southeast Europe c.7300 BP.
The script first appeared in the central Balkans, but quickly spread
to southern Hungary, Transylvania, the Danube valley, Macedonia, and
northern Greece.
The Danube script flourished up to about 5,500 BP, when a social
upheaval apparently took place. The script is currently undecipherable,
but is currently generating a lot of interest among scholars of ancient
languages.
Carcea Culture
The Carcea culture is identified by its unique ceramic cups with a
white spiral on a red background.
In a paper presented at the 11th Neolithic Seminar (4-7 November 2004)
in Ljubljana, Slovenia, titled "Zoo Symbolism and Early Neolithic Portable
Art in Romania," Dr. Corneliu Beldiman gave a detailed analysis of a
fragment found in 1971 by Dr. Marin Nica. The fragment was uncovered during
the excavation of the well-known "Early Neolithic" (which is placed in the
Mesolithic here) site from Carcea (southwestern Romania, Dolj County).
The site dates to some time around the mid-sixth millennium BC.
The artifact, about 30mm long, is worked from a red deer antler and
is interpreted to be part of a bracelet. It is the earliest zoomorphic
representation (stylized herbivore) of chiseled bone found in Romania.
Pre-Cucuteni Culture
The Pre-Cucuteni culture existed between 7,500 and 3,500 years ago.
It is considered by many archaeologists as one of the oldest European
cultures. They're descendants of earlier Paleolithic tribes. Traces of
these wanderers can be found in Valea Dirjovului, and in Bugiuleşti,
and in the area of the Olt River.
Go Elsewhere
At this point, you have a couple of options:
Enjoy your stay and have a great day!
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