Bridging the gap. The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in a frontier zone

Abstract

This paper deals with the chronological hiatus in the Neolithic sequence of the southern part of the Low Countries. It can at present only be bridged indirectly, by a detailed analysis of the situation prior to and after the gap. The focus in this paper is on the nature of the Neolithic and its relationship with possible native non-Neolithic populations. The results of this analysis show the transition process to have been more than a simple and unidirectional ‘Neolithisation’.

Keywords

• Mesolithic-Neolithic transition
• Linearbandkeramik
• Chasséen and Michelsberg Culture
• Contact finds
• Settlement patterns