Épipaléolithique
The Épipaléolithique is the prehistoric period which succeeds immediately the Paléolithique superior, approximately 12.000 years ago.
Its definition is complex and utilizes elements chronological, climatic, environmental, social and technical. Épipaléolithique is marked by the glacial end of time and generalized radoucissement, accompanied in Europe by an important development by forest cover and thus by a modification by faunas (disappearance of the gregarious species of opened medium, in particular of the Renne, and development of the forest species, in particular the stag or the Sanglier).
The lifestyle of the human groups of Épipaléolithique falls under the continuity of those of Paleolithic and their economy is always that of groups of hunters-gatherers. However, the environmental changes will induce a certain number of technical amendments (generalization of the arc, more adapted to hunting in forest, and thus production of flint reinforcements of reduced size but always at the expense of blades) or behavioral (development of individual hunting, with the mounting; exploitation of more diversified resources).
The culture Magdalénien, stable and generalized on the whole of the continent of Europe and easily identified by its industry and its spectacular art parietal and movable, succeed of the material cultures more localized and changing more quickly. The artistic expressions are done definitely more discrete (striated or painted rollers) and are seldom figurative.
In Europe, the independent groups epipaleolithic are the Azilien, the Valorguien, the Montadien, the groups of the Long Blade Technology , Laborien, the groups with Federmesser and Tjongérien. Épipaléolithique of the the Maghreb is also diversified and comprises various facies, of which the Ibéromaurusien and the Capsien.
There is a little less than 10.000 years, the companies of the Mesolithic (Sauveterrien, Tardenoisien or Castelnovien in France, Maglemosien and Ertebölien in Denmark) start to succeed the groups epipaleolithic. They mark a clearer rupture with the Paleolithic one (regression of cuttings up of blades; realization of all small geometrical reinforcements, the Microlithe S; drive out small mammals and important consumption of snails; end of art).
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