The Mesolithic culture of Europe represents a transitional phase between the Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer societies and the Neolithic farming communities. It developed after the end of the last Ice Age, approximately from 10,000 BCE to 5,000 BCE, although its chronology varied considerably across different regions. The retreat of glaciers brought major environmental changes, including the expansion of forests, rising sea levels, and the disappearance or migration of many large Ice Age animals. These changes profoundly influenced human subsistence, technology, settlement patterns, and social organization. Mesolithic communities were primarily hunter-gatherers, but their economy became more diversified than that of the Palaeolithic. As dense forests expanded across much of Europe, people increasingly hunted red deer, roe deer, wild boar, aurochs, and other woodland animals. Fishing and the collection of shellfish became particularly important in coastal and riverine areas. Birds, small mammals, nuts, berries, roots, and other plant foods were also exploited. In some regions, aquatic resources such as fish, seals, and waterfowl formed a significant part of the diet. This broad-spectrum economy allowed