Middle Paleolithic

The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between around 300,000 and 30,000 years ago. There are considerable dating differences between regions. It is succeeded by the Upper Paleolithic subdivision.

Characteristics

• It was the time when Homo neanderthalensis (300,000 – 30,000 years) lived. These hominids had an increasing control over their surroundings and later saw the emergence of modern humans around 100,000 years ago.

• Stone tool manufacturing developed a more sophisticated toolmaking technique known as the prepared-core technique which permitted the creation of more controlled and consistent flakes. These could sometimes be hafted onto wooden shafts as arrows to form more efficient composite tools. Standard sharp point wood spears were still prevalent in the middle paleolithic age.

• Hunting provided the primary food source but people also began to exploit shellfish and may have begun smoking and drying meat to preserve it. This would have required a mastery of fire (attested from ca. 800,000 years ago) and some sites indicate that plant resources were managed through selective burning of wide areas.

• Artistic expression emerged for the first time with ochre used as body paint and some early rock art appearing. There is also some evidence of purposeful burial of the dead which may indicate religious and ritual behaviours.

• Phylogenetic separation of Modern humans dates to this period, Mitochondrial Eve to roughly 150,000 years ago, Y-chromosomal Adam to roughly 90,000 years ago; see single-origin hypothesis.

Middle Paleolithic Cave Sites

• Le Moustier, France - see also Mousterian
• La Quina, France
• Neanderthal, Germany
• Goyet, Belgium
• Spy, Belgium

Middle Paleolithic Open-Air Sites

• Rheindahlen, Germany
• Maastricht-Belvédère, The Netherlands
• Veldwezelt-Hezerwater, Belgium

External links

• Veldwezelt-Hezerwater
• Online community of people who strive to emulate the diet and fitness of Paleolithic humans

References

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