The late Mesolithic of Western Europe: origins and diffusion of blade and trapeze industries

International audienceDuring the 7th millennium cal BC, Mesolithic assemblages record a major change throughout the entire European continent. This change took place in a very rapid manner. The aim of this paper is to determine possible origins of this phenomenon and to define the chronological stages of its spread. Critical examination of the radiocarbon dates and the sites make an African origin of this phenomenon likely, which subsequently diffuses very rapidly across the entire Western Mediterranean Basin before expanding across the whole of Western Europe. Equally, we are also trying to understand its proper nature: introduction of a new technical concept or migration of culturally distinct human groups