Middle Paleolithic Article Index for
Middle
Website Links For
Middle
 

Information About

Middle Paleolithic





CHARACTERISTICS

  • It was the time when '' Homo Neanderthalensis '' (300,000 – 30,000 ya) lived. These Hominid s 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 Flake s. These could sometimes be hafted onto wooden shafts as arrows to form more efficient Composite Tool s. 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 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.




MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC CAVE SITES



MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC OPEN-AIR SITES



EXTERNAL LINKS



REFERENCES