Azilian

Azilian

Geographical range	Western Europe
Period	Epipaleolithic
Dates	circa 12,000 years ago (uncalibrated)
Type site	Le Mas-d'Azil
Major sites	Birsmatten-Eremitage
Preceded by	Magdalenian
Followed by	Maglemosian culture, Sauveterrian

The Azilian is a name given by archaeologists to an industry of the Epipaleolithic in northern Spain and southern France.

It probably dates to the period of the Allerød Oscillation around 12,000 years ago (uncalibrated) and followed the Magdalenian culture. Archaeologists think the Azilian represents the tail end of the Magdalenian as the warming climate brought about changes in human behaviour in the area. The effects of melting ice sheets would have diminished the food supply and probably impoverished the previously well-fed Magdalenian manufacturers. As a result, Azilian tools and art were cruder and less expansive than their Ice Age predecessors - or simply different.