Regional perspectives on Early Mesolithic land use in southwestern Germany

Long-term, regional surface survey in southwestern Germany has generated a large body of data on the Early Mesolithic (ca. 10,300-7800 BP). Problems in using such surface data are discussed and excavated Early Mesolithic assemblages are used to suggest methods of mitigating some of these problems. To investigate patterns of land use, a site typology is developed based on assemblage size, and patterned differences in site location, assemblage contents, and raw material use are explored.