Answer :
Final answer:
The Mesolithic era is known for the characteristic tool type called microliths, which were small flint flakes used individually or as part of composite tools. This period is distinguished by a shift from large stone tools and group hunting to specialized hunter-gatherer tools that preceded the use of Acheulean hand-axes.
Explanation:
The characteristic tool type of the Mesolithic era was the microlith. This era witnessed a transition from the use of large chipped stone tools and group hunting of large herd animals to the adoption of smaller, more specialized chipped stone tools suitable for a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The Mesolithic period saw the introduction of microliths, small flint flakes that could be used individually or combined with others to form composite tools, such as the edges of hunting weapons.
The Acheulean tool type, best described as hand-axes made by careful chipping of stones, is associated with a prior period and is largely characterized by its biface, symmetrical form, and use for cutting, chopping, and scraping. This technology was succeeded by smaller and more versatile tools such as the Mousterian tools, which evolved into even more complex and varied tool industries, including the blade tool industry of the Upper Paleolithic.
