The 12th millennium BC spanned the years 12,000 BC to 11,001 BC (c. 14 ka to c. 13 ka). This millennium is during the Upper Paleolithic period. The Paleolithic-Mesolithic transition began in the Near East during this millennium.[1] It is impossible to precisely date events that happened during this millennium, and all dates associated with this millennium are estimates mostly based on geological analysis, anthropological analysis, and radiometric dating.
There is material evidence for the build up of the Mediterranean islands that is pointing to such activity as early as the 12-11th millennium BC.[5] More than a century ago, it first became clear how much of the Magdalenian and Azilian underwent change in Western Europe.[6] Since that time, these mutations succeeding one another between the 14th and 12th millennium BC, particularly during the Lateglacial warming, were often seen as a real revolution, frequently described through the filter of myths of catastrophes which then inspired and at times still influences prehistoric research.[6]
No concrete archaeological evidence was found to substantiate a human presence in Egypt throughout this millennium, according to Egyptologists.[7] The time gap has been filled, at least, with comparable discoveries made at TushkainEgypt during this millennium, showing continuity of human presence in the area from this antiquity all the way down to the start of history.[8]
The frequency of occurrence of fundamental tool groups such as end-scrapers, burins, truncated pieces, backed pieces, perforators, and combination tools in Moravian inventory is most closely matched and is dated to the late 13th - early 11th millennium BC.[9] From the 17th to the 9th millennium BC, no surface pressure flaking technology is known to have existed in Europe.[10] Only this millennium has the first conclusive evidence for deep-sea fishing and navigation in the Strait of Gibraltar crossing.[11]
The Hamburg cultures prevailed in Schleswig-Holstein around the second half of this millennium.[14] The sites, Göbekli Tepe, Gusir Höyük, Nevali Çori, and Karahan Tepe, have generated convincing proof of public rituals performed by shaman-like ritual practitioners and also indicate that collective celebrations of rites and rituals have existed since this millennium.[15]McNeish's excavations in Mexico's Tehuacan Valley have revealed a series of cave cultural layers dating back to this millennium.[16]Jebel Sahaba, a prehistoric site of protracted violence, probably dates to this millennium.[17]
Boucherit, Gilles (13 June 2014). "Irish and Breton Megalithism". hal.science. Bretagne/Irlande : Quelles relations?. Centre De Recherche Bretonne Et Celtique: 13. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
Arbuckle, Benjamin S. (2012). "11". In Potts, D.T (ed.). Animals in the Ancient World(PDF) (1st ed.). Blackwell Publishing. p. 210. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
