Mesolithic

Mesolithic Scotland, covering roughly 9,600 BCE to 4,000 BCE, represents a period following the last Ice Age when hunter-gatherer groups inhabited the region. As the climate warmed and became more stable, forests expanded and provided resources for these communities. The Mesolithic Scots exploited coastal and inland resources, using tools like microliths-small, sharp stone blades-to hunt, fish, and gather.

Evidence from archaeological sites, especially shell middens along coastlines, reveals a semi-nomadic lifestyle with seasonal movements. This period was marked by a deep understanding of the natural environment and a close relationship with the changing Scottish landscape.