Mesolithic Europe
This book focuses on the archaeology of the hunter-gatherer societies that inhabited Europe in the millennia between the last Ice Age and the spread of agriculture, between ten thousand and five thousand years ago. Traditionally viewed as a period of cultural stagnation, new data now demonstrate that this was a period of radical change and innovation. This was the period that witnessed the colonisation of extensive new territory at high latitudes and high altitudes following postglacial climatic change, the development of seafaring, and the synthesis of the technological, economic, and social capabilities that underpinned the later development of agricultural and urban societies. Providing a pan-European overview, Mesolithic Europe includes regional syntheses written by experts in each region as well as a diversity of theoretical perspectives.
- Diversity of theoretical perspectives including the latest ideas
- Up-to-date regional syntheses written by experts in each region
- New data from previously inaccessible or little known areas of Europe
Reviews & endorsements
'… the book … will become the standard reference work on the subject for both specialists and non-specialists, the first port of call when any information is needed.' Journal of Archaeological Science
'In Mesolithic Europe, Geoff Bailey and Penny Spikins are to be congratulated for having provided us with a comprehensive summary of current knowledge of the Mesolithic of much of Europe. The book is a large one which is useful in that it covers areas frequently given considerably less attention in equivalent volumes, most of which tend to concentrate on specific regions of the continent. … One thing which becomes increasingly apparent as one reads the chapters in this book is the richness and diversity of the Mesolithic archaeological record in the areas covered. … For this the authors and editors are to be congratulated in providing what will surely become a standard work of reference for years to come.' Cambridge Archaeological Journal
'Mesolithic Europe has allowed a remarkable gathering of well-established scholars from different traditions, and will become a key reference for students and researchers, bearing in mind the virtual absence of monographic works on this topic.' Archaeological Review from Cambridge
Product details
August 2010Paperback
9780521147972
500 pages
251 × 175 × 28 mm
1kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Mesolithic Europe - glimpses of another world Penny Spikins
- 2. Innovating hunter-gatherers: the Mesolithic in the Baltic Marek Zvelebil
- 3. Norwegian Mesolithic trends: a review Hein Bjerck
- 4. Southern Scandinavia Hans Peter Blankholm
- 5. Mesolithic Britain Chris Tolan-Smith
- 6. New developments in the study of the Mesolithic of the low countries Leo Verhardt
- 7. The Mesolithic in France Nicolas Valdeyron
- 8. The Mesolithic of the Upper Danube and the Upper Rhine Michael Jochim
- 9. The Mesolithic of the Middle Danube and Upper Elbe rivers Jiri Svoboda
- 10. The Mesolithic of the iron gates Clive Bonsall
- 11. The Mesolithic of European Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine Pavel Doluckanov
- 12. The Mesolithic of Atlantic Iberia Lawrence Guy Straus
- 13. The coastal Mesolithic of the European Mediterranean Mark Pluciennik
- 14. Mesolithic Europe, overview and new problems Geoff Bailey.