An Old World chronological period beginning around 10,000 years ago, situated between the Paleolithic and Neolithic, and associated with the rise to dominance of microliths
(or Epipalaeolithic) - Mesolithic means literally "Middle Stone (Age)" and Epipalaeolithic means attached to (at the end of) the Palaeolithic Mesolithic (or Epopalaeolithic) is used as the term for an Old World (largely Eurasian) chronological period beginning about 10,000 years ago and situated between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic