Hunter-gatherers in Mesolithic Europe weren't the isolated groups we once assumed. Geological analysis traced flint found in central Andalusia back to sources south of France—around 500 miles away. These mobile groups maintained far-flung exchange networks long before agriculture ever arrived in the region 🌿📍 It challenges our whole picture of pre-farmer societies
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers traded flint 500 miles across Europe
Key facts
- Mesolithic flint in central Andalusia traced to south of France, approximately 500 miles away
- This trade occurred before the arrival of farmers
- Geological and chemical analysis identified the source material
- Hunter-gatherers were not as insular as traditionally believed
Sources
Mesolithic hunter-gatherer | Paris antique - Archéologie | culturearcheologie.culture.gouv.fr
They left behind traces of hearth and many flint arrowhead, since during this period, the bow was the favorute weapon of hunters.
Mesolithic flint scatter at Point Pleasant and the Morganite Works ...academia.edu
The Mesolithic flint assemblage indicates human activity at Point Pleasant, with 109 struck flints documented. Excavations revealed an Early ...
[PDF] The Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in southern Iberia - Archimerarchimer.ifremer.fr
As the earliest evidences of neolithization in this area were found in coastal environments, the coasts of Málaga (Spain) and of the Algarve. ( ...
Map showing the location of the flint outcrops and block morphology...researchgate.net
Situated in southern Spain's Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) are two of the most important western European ...
Flint tools found in Guadalajara originate from southwestern France ...labrujulaverde.com
A geochemical analysis of stone tools found in Guadalajara confirms the transport of flint from southwestern France, a distance of 600–700 ...
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