Mesolithic projectile variability along the southern North Sea basin (NW Europe): Hunter-gatherer responses to repeated climate change at the beginning of the Holocene.

Philippe Crombé,Michael D Petraglia

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219094

Abstract

This paper investigates how former hunter-gatherers living along the southern North Sea coast in NW Europe adapted to long-term and short-term climatic and environmental changes at the beginning of the Holocene. It is argued that contemporaneous hunter-gatherers repeatedly changed their hunting equipment in response to changing climate and environment, not just for functional reasons but mainly driven by socio-territorial considerations. Based on a Bayesian analysis of 122 critically selected radiocarbon dates a broad chronological correlation is demonstrated between rapid changes in the design and technology of stone projectiles and short but abrupt cooling events, occurring at 10.3, 9.3 and 8.2 ka cal BP. Combined with the rapid sea level rises and increased wildfires these climatic events probably impacted the lifeways of hunter-gatherers in such a way that they increasingly faced resource stress and competition, forcing them to invest in the symbolic defense of their social territories.

Highlights

The Early Holocene in Europe archaeologically corresponds to the Middle Stone Age or the Mesolithic
Wommersom and Tienen quartzite, are used for the production of projectile implements, the former was restricted for the production of crescents while the latter was mainly used for triangle production [43, 44]
As both quartzites originate from the same outcrop area in the middle of Belgium, this pattern clearly reflects a deliberate choice of two different social groups within the same territory, who possibly shared overlapping annual ranges

Summary

Introduction

The Early Holocene in Europe archaeologically corresponds to the Middle Stone Age or the Mesolithic (maximum duration ca. 11,000–6000 cal BP). The Early Holocene in Europe archaeologically corresponds to the Middle Stone Age or the Mesolithic Due to rapid climatic amelioration, contemporaneous hunter-gatherers faced similar environmental changes as we encounter today, among which a significant rise of the sea level [1], a northwards migration of particular plant and animal species [2], the concomitant extinction of less thermophilous species, and increased drought [3,4] and wildfires [5]. Archaeologists have been studying how these ecosystem changes impacted the lifeways of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. The microlith named after its small sizes (mean length 2-3cm), has been studied intensively.

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Discussion

Conclusion