The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between around 300,000 and 30,000 years ago. There are considerable dating differences between regions. It is succeeded by the Upper Paleolithic subdivision. The Pleistocene epoch (IPA: ) is part of the geologic timescale. ... The Pleistocene epoch (IPA: ) is part of the geologic timescale. ... The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic (Greek παλαιός paleos=old and λίθος lithos=stone or the Old Stone Age) was the first period in the development of human technology of the Stone Age. ... The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. ... The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. ... The Holocene epoch is a geological period that extends from the present back about 10,000 radiocarbon years. ... The Mesolithic (Greek mesos=middle and lithos=stone or the Middle Stone Age) was a period in the development of human technology between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods of the Stone Age. ... The Epipalaeolithic (or Epi-Palaeolithic, Epipaleolithic, or Epi-Paleolithic) was a period in the development of human technology that immediately precedes the neolithic period, as an alternative to mesolithic. ... An array of Neolithic artefacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Scotland, Europes most complete Neolithic village. ... The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic (Greek παλαιός paleos=old and λίθος lithos=stone or the Old Stone Age) was the first period in the development of human technology of the Stone Age. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. ...

Characteristics

• It was the time when Homo neanderthalensis (300,000 – 30,000 years) lived. These hominids 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 flakes. These could sometimes be hafted onto wooden shafts as arrows to form more efficient composite tools. 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 (attested from ca. 800,000 years ago) 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.

• Phylogenetic separation of Modern humans dates to this period, Mitochondrial Eve to roughly 150,000 years ago, Y-chromosomal Adam to roughly 90,000 years ago; see single-origin hypothesis.

Binomial name Homo neanderthalensis King, 1864 The Neanderthal or Neandertal was a species of genus Homo (Homo neanderthalensis) that inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia from about 230,000 to 29,000 years ago (in the Middle Palaeolithic, early Stone Age). ... Genera The hominids are the members of the biological family Hominidae (the great apes), which includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ... Ancient stone tools A stone tool is, in the most general sense, any tool made of stone. ... Centripetal Core Reduction Centripetal or radial core reduction strategies are found in most Middle Palaeolithic assemblages known from Africa and Eurasia (e. ... Flake can be: fish flake, a platform made from dried timber where fish (predominantly cod-fish) can be cured in the sun. ... A large bonfire. ... This article is about the color. ... Rock art is a term in archaeology for any man-made markings made on natural stone. ... Underwater funeral in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea from an edition with drawings by Alphonse de Neuville and Edouard Riou. ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ... Mitochondrial Eve (mt-mrca) is the name given by researchers to the woman who is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor for all living humans, from whom all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in living humans is derived. ... In human genetics, Y-chromosomal Adam (Y-mrca) is the male counterpart to mitochondrial Eve: the most recent common ancestor from whom all male human Y chromosomes are descended. ... In paleoanthropology, the single-origin hypothesis (or Out-of-Africa model) is one of two accounts of the origin of anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens. ...

Middle Paleolithic Cave Sites

• Le Moustier, France - see also Mousterian
• La Quina, France
• Neanderthal, Germany
• Goyet, Belgium
• Spy, Belgium

Le Moustier is a fossilized skull of the species Homo neanderthalensis. ... Mousterian is a name given by archaeologists to style of flint tools (or industry) dating to the Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age. ... Binomial name †Homo neanderthalensis King, 1864 Synonyms Palaeoanthropus neanderthalensis The Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) or Neandertal was a species of the Homo genus that inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia. ...

Middle Paleolithic Open-Air Sites

• Rheindahlen, Germany
• Maastricht-Belvédère, The Netherlands
• Veldwezelt-Hezerwater, Belgium

The Rheindahlen Military Complex is a British forces base near Mönchengladbach in Germany. ... // Context The successive archaeological excavation campaigns at Veldwezelt-Hezerwater, Belgium provide important remains of at least five separate Middle Palaeolithic valley settlements. ...

External links

• Veldwezelt-Hezerwater
• Online community of people who strive to emulate the diet and fitness of Paleolithic humans

References