15th millennium BC

The 15th millennium BC spanned the years 15,000 BC to 14,001 BC. This millennium is during the Upper Paleolithic period. It is impossible to precisely date events that happened during this millennium, and all dates associated with this millennium are estimates mostly based on geological analysis, anthropological analysis, and radiometric dating.

Inventions, discoveries, and innovations

Dwelling made with mammoth bones. Reconstruction based on the example of Mezhirich. Exhibit in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.

• Ukraine: A prehistoric settlement in Mezhirich included shelters constructed from mammoth skeletons, coverings made of beast skins, fire pits containing burnt debris, and floors tinted with ocher hues—demonstrating primitive creativity and collective habitation. ^[1]
• United States: Probable presence of humans at the Cactus Hill site in Virginia, where stone artefacts and possibly hearths dating to before the Clovis culture have been found. ^[2]
• Middle East: Probable domestication of the dog.
• Italy: Development of Gravettian civilisations in Italy and Eastern Europe.
• Europe: Peak of rock art.
• France, Spain: Development of magdalenian civilisations (development of craftsmanship based on bone materials and the quality of furniture and wall art). ^[3]
• Russia: Osipovka culture's portable art shows early face motifs from the 15th millennium BC, influencing later Neolithic traditions. Kondon culture emphasized animal imagery, with limited continuation of face motifs. ^[4]
• Japan: Pottery may have originated earlier, as Japan’s Jomon hunter-gatherers crafted the world’s oldest known ceramics around 14,500 BC. ^[5]
• Egypt and Mesopotamia: The widespread emergence of glass beads. ^[6]
• Early humans progressively invented tools and techniques for trapping animals. The earliest spears were crafted from wood, with tips toughened by burning. By 15,000 BC, hunters employed wooden and bone spear-launchers to enhance force and distance. These devices were frequently adorned with carvings of creatures. ^[7]
• Harvesting sickles, first developed around 15,000 years ago, had wooden handles and flint blades. Their basic design remained largely unchanged for thousands of years across different cultures. ^[8]
• Early humans created cave art around 15,000 years ago, reflecting hunting rituals and climate. ^[9]
• Early humans drew hybrid creatures like the “dancing sorcerer,” later imagining gods like Medusa—marking a shift in seeing humans as distinct from animals. ^[10]
• The earliest applications of paint served purely ornamental purposes. Consequently, pigment lacking any adhesive agent—composed mainly of iron oxide was employed in prehistoric cave art around the 15,000s BC in parts of Asia. ^[11]
• Farming may have emerged in sub-Saharan Africa as far back as the 15,000s BCE. ^[12]

Geography

• Alaska: Around 14,500 BC, rising ocean levels submerged land bridges, isolating Siberia and transforming Beringia into a region that would eventually be incorporated into present-day Alaska. ^[13]
• Since 15,000 BC, rising sea levels and river sediment have reshaped the Persian Gulf’s coastline; modern borders now overlay it. ^[14]

References

1. Lee Palmer, Allison (2008). Historical Dictionary of Architecture - p 216. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN   9780810862838.
2. Athena Review 2,3: Recent Finds in Archaeology: Pre-Clovis occupation on Virginia's Nottoway River
3. Burnham, Bradn (2003). Cave of Lascaux : the cave of prehistoric wall paintings. New York, N.Y. : PowerKids Press. ISBN   0823962571.
4. Mirşan, Kazım Mirşan (2024). Kaya Sanatı p 83. BAR Publishing, Oxford. ISBN   9781407358765.
5. Ideas : a history from fire to Freud - by Watson, Peter, 1943- ISBN   006621064X
6. Murray, Maureen (1995). All about beads : a guide to beads and bead jewellery making. London : B.T. Batsford. ISBN   9780713478631.
7. Branigan, Keith (1996). Stone age people - p 29. London : Two-can in assoc. with Franklin Watts. ISBN   1854343653.
8. Branigan, Keith (1996). Stone age people - p 34. London : Two-can in assoc. with Franklin Watts. ISBN   1854343653.
9. Corbishley, Mike (1992). The Ancient World p 9. Bedrick. ISBN   0872263541.
10. Eshleman, Clayton (1981). Hades in manganese - p 11. Santa Barbara, Calif. : Black Sparrow Press. ISBN   0876854730.
11. Hunter, Erica C. D (1972). Funk & Wagnalls new encyclopedia p 73. New York, Funk & Wagnalls. ISBN   9780834300941.
12. heusch, luc (2009). History of Mali p 54. Alphascript Publishing. ISBN   9786130004484.
13. Watson, Peter (2012). The great divide : history and human nature in the old world and the new. London : Phoenix Books. ISBN   9780753828458.
14. Hunter, Erica C. D (1994). First civilizations p 15. New York : Facts on File. ISBN   0816029768.