Sauveterrian

An Early Mesolithic culture of France and neighboring parts of Europe, following the Azilian in c 9000 bp. It later spread to Britain and was contemporary with the Later Maglemosian. It is characterized by the lack of woodworking tools and by an abundance of geometric microliths. It is named after rock shelters in Sauveterre-la-Lémance, France. Sauveterrian related to 8000-4500 BC in southern half of France and it preceded the Tardenoisian.

Two rock shelters at this locality in Lot et Garonne, southwest France, have revealed a sequence of Mesolithic deposits. Over the late Magda-lenian are found Azilian, Sauveterrian and Tardenoisian layers. A skull buried in Roc Allan is probably Sauveterrian.