THE (RE-) POPULATION OF NORTHERN FRANCE BETWEEN 13,000 AND 8000BP

Abstract

Abstract During the Upper Pleniglacial only southern France was occupied. During the Bolling temperate phase (ca. 13,000–12,200 BP) people of the Magdalenian culture occupied some six (tribal or macro-band?) territories ranging from ca. 15,000 to 35,000 km2 in area, in zones with substantial relief. The bow and arrow with microlithic tips were invented before the end of Dryas II. Since Allerod times, the whole area of modern-day France was used by Azilioid bow hunting peoples, the boundaries of whose social territories are not yet known. The oblique section bladelet was invented during the Dryas III cold phase. By the end of Preboreal, more than 30 Mesolithic cultures had established themselves and remained stable. During Boreal, tribal territories covered some 15,000 km2 each and had populations of 1000–3000 people each — as during the Magdalenian, but without the empty zones among the territories. The microlithic trapeze arrowhead was invented before the Atlantic phase. Changes in industries were thus not caused by climatic changes; rather they were the results of technical inventions. The time lag in terms of inventions achieving their full social effect was on the order of 1000 yr.