The Term Mesolithic

Abstract

ARCHAEOLOGISTS, of whom I am one, are really quite remarkable people. It is notorious that the nomenclature of their study is already in a sad condition, yet, recently, they have gone out of their way to make confusion more confounded. It has now become the practice to describe early neolithic flint implements by the term mesolithic, a term which means, of course, Middle Stone Age. Some misguided individual, however, evidently possessing, in full measure, the common archaeological flair for promoting the use of a misleading terminology, has applied it to relics referable solely to the end of the Stone Age, and to make matters worse, the practice is becoming widespread. I find it necessary to remind myself that I am writing to the editor of a highly reputable scientific journal, and this knowledge, I confess, somewhat cramps my style. I would like to say many other things about the term mesolithic. But if archaeologists wish to retain a vestige of a reputation for reason, let them drop this word now, and for evermore.