all you need to know about the mesolithic era
All You Need to Know About the Mesolithic Era
The end of the Ice Age and Paleolithic Age brought along with it the rise of a new age called the Mesolithic era. In this era, man was compelled to adapt to his new surroundings by changing his lifestyle and the tools and weapons he used. This Buzzle post has some more information about the Mesolithic era.
Did You Know?
The Mesolithic era is also known as the transition time between the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras.Mesolithic Life
Mesolithic man mostly survived on hunting and gatherings. His hunting skills and tools had evolved to the point that it is believed that the man of that period had driven most of the world's megafauna to extinction. Their tools and weapons had evolved, and they had begun making weapons with microliths. It is believed that man had intentionally begun planting seeds in fertile soil.Mesolithic Houses
Archeologists also believe that the Mesolithic man had started to stay in one place for a longer time. Archeological evidence found in Scotland prove that the Mesolithic man lived in hut-like houses. These houses had sunken floors and were built of wooden posts around the hearth.Mesolithic Rituals
Mesolithic man took part in rituals and ceremonies. Evidence found at Star Carr in England, is the best known archaeological site for this era. Artifacts like elk antler mattocks, bone scrapers, masks, skull caps, and headdress made from red deer antlers were excavated here.
The Mesolithic man also left behind evidence of burying the dead in small cemeteries. Burials varied from inhumation to cremation and skull nests―this also indicates to large-scale violence. Some graves also had shells, jewelry, animal and human figurines, goods, and tools, which hinted towards social stratification.Art
Mesolithic art work was dominated by red ochre. Following are some famous Mesolithic paintings found all over the world.
➤ Bhimbetka rock paintings (9,000 BCE) India.
➤ Pachmarhi Hills paintings (9,000 BCE), India.
➤ Pre-Estuarine X-Ray paintings (c.9,000 BCE) Ubirr, Arnhem Land, Australia.
➤ Tadrart Acacus paintings/petroglyphs (c.9,000 BCE), Libya.
➤ Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin (8,000 BCE).
➤ San or Bushmen rock paintings (c. 8,000 BCE) Waterberg area, South Africa.
➤ Tassili n'Ajjer rock art (c.8,000 BCE), Algerian Sahara.
Most of these artworks and engravings depicted animals and humans. Human portraits were depicted to be hunting, dancing, and performing everyday activities and other rituals. This also indicates that man had adopted painting tools like reeds and feathers.Cave Paintings
Sculptures and Carvings
Architecture
Göbekli Tepe of Turkey is dated to be of the Mesolithic era. It is believed to have been a sanctuary or a religious center. A large number of megaliths were used to build this shrine around 9,500 BCE. Göbekli Tepe has the oldest stone structure that is filled with pictographs and petrograms numerous animal reliefs depicting animals like foxes, lions, bulls, wild boars, gazelles, reptiles, etc.
Another such stone sculpture is the Nevali Cori, which has a life-size human head carved in stone, along with a carved statue of a bird, and numerous other stone sculptures.Warfare
As the Mesolithic era came to an end and man started settling down and domesticating animals and plants, wars began to flare up. Skeletons were recovered from Mesolithic burial grounds proving the incidence of violence and war. It is believed that social pressure, competition, and rights of land fueled wars.