The Mesolithic Period (The First Humans and Early Civilizations)

While awe-inspiring cave paintings were a hallmark of the Upper Paleolithic Era in Europe, they became uncommon in the Mesolithic Period that followed. Scholars believe that this, along with a number of other changes observed in the transition to the Mesolithic Period, was a reaction to a changing environment, caused by the melting of glaciers at the end of the last glacial period. This title paints a vivid picture of a key period of human history. Descriptions of specific discoveries and sites, such as England’s Starr Carr and India’s Bagor, help readers understand how archaeologists learn about life in the Mesolithic Period.