Mesolithic Era

Mesolithic Era
The transition from the Palaeolithic period to Mesolithic period is marked by transition from Pleistocene period to Holocene and favourable changes in the climate The climate became warmer and humid and there was expansion of flora and fauna contributed by increased rainfall This led to availability of new resources to humans
Tools of Mesolithic Era
The Mesolithic tools smaller in size and better in finishing (more geometric) than the Palaeolithic age and are called Microliths These microliths are tiny tools of one to five centimetres length, made by blunting one or more sides with steep retouch
The main tool types are backed blades, obliquely truncated blades, points, crescents, triangles and trapezes Some of the microliths were used as components of spearheads, arrowheads, knives, sickles, harpoons and daggers They were fitted into grooves in bone, wood and reed shafts and joined together by natural adhesives like gum and resin Use of bow and arrows for hunting has been documented by Mesolithic man in rock art of that period The Bored stones, which had already appeared during the upper Palaeolithic, became common during this, and the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods These are believed to have been used as weights in digging sticks and as net sinkers Similarly, shallow querns and grinding stones also occur at several sites These new technological elements led to enhanced efficiency in hunting, collection and processing of wild plant foods