MESO2025 - Session 1. Transitions

Coordinated by Elisabetta Starnini, Alexandre Angelin and Nicolas Valdeyron

Abstract

 Transitions? We talk about transitions every time we identify archaeological evidence that seems to interrupt a gradual cultural evolution process. Relevant examples are the transitions between the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, First (or Early) and Second (or Late) Mesolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic, and so on. But, are we sure that the term transition is the most appropriate for all of these instances? In fact, a true transition is a long and gradual process, as observed for example in the Near East with the development of the PPN. Many of the changes that occurred in Europe at the beginning of the Holocene happened quite rapidly. Are we sure the word replacement would not be more fitting? Actually, the changes we  observe from the perspective of material culture could have occurred with very different modalities and even differ  consistently from one territory to another.

This session welcomes contributions focused on relevant changes involving the Mesolithic period. In particular, we invite contributions presenting new data on “transitional periods” involving Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fisher societies at different territorial scales, from regional trends to specific case studies. At the same time, we welcome synthesis works based on new analytical studies carried out by applying traditional as well as new methodologies, contributing to the current debate on the origin and  development of the Mesolithic period by offering new  interpretative perspectives.