This event, dedicated to the research of the European Mesolithic, was first held in Warsaw in 1973 and has since attracted a continuously growing number of participants. Since 1985, international conferences on the Mesolithic in Europe have been held every five years. Information concerning these conferences and the published proceedings are provided below.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the 10th Conference was undertaken remotely in September 2020. The 11th Conference will be held in Ferrara, Italy between the 15th and 19th of September 2025.

Distribution map of the Mesolithic Conferences in Europe (credit: Perrin).

Conferences and published proceedings

• 11th Conference: Ferrara, Italy (15-19 September 2025)

• 10th Conference: Toulouse, France (7-11 September 2020)

Proceedings: Open Archaeology, 8 and Open Archaeology, 9

• 9th Conference: Belgrade, Serbia (14-18 September 2015)

Proceedings: Borić, D., Antonović, D. and Mihailović, B. (2021) Foraging Assemblages. Belgrade and New York: Serbian Archaeological Society and The Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, Columbia University

• 8th Conference: Santander, Spain (13-17 September 2010)

Proceedings: forthcoming

• 7th Conference: Belfast, Northern Ireland (29 August-2 September 2005)

Proceedings: McCartan, S., Schulting, R., Warren, G. and Woodman, P. (2009) Mesolithic Horizons. Papers presented at the Seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford:  Oxbow Books Ltd.

• 6th Conference: Stockholm, Sweden (4-8 September 2000)

Proceedings: Larsson, L., Kindgren, H., Knutson, K., Loeffler, D. and Åkerlund, A. (2003) Mesolithic on the Move: Papers presented at the sixth international conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Stockholm 2000. Oxford: Oxbow Books Ltd.

• 5th Conference: Grenoble, France (18-23 September 1995)

Proceedings: Thévenin, A. (1999) L'Europe des derniers chasseurs: Épipaléolithique et Mésolithique. Peuplement et paléoenvironnement de l'Épipaléolithique et du Mésolithique. Actes du 5e colloque international UISPP, Commission XII. Grenoble, 18-23 septembre 1995. Paris: Éditions du CTHS.

• 4th Conference: Leuven, Belgium (17-23 September 1990)

Proceedings: Vermeersch, P. M. and Van Peer, P. (1990) Contributions to the Mesolithic in Europe. Papers Presented at the Fourth International Symposium, The Mesolithic in Europe, Leuven 1990. Leuven: Studia Praehistorica Belgica 5.

• 3rd Conference: Edinburgh, Scotland (31 March-6 April 1985)

Proceedings: Bonsall, C. (1989) The Mesolithic in Europe. Papers Presented at the Third International Symposium, Edinburgh, 1985. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers Ltd.

• 2nd Conference: Potsdam, Germany (3-8 April 1978)

Proceedings: Gramsch, B. (1981) Mesolithikum in Europa: 2. internationales Symposium, Potsdam, 3. bis 8. April 1978. Berlin: Veröffentlichungen des Museums für Ur- und Frühgeschichte Potsdam 14/15.

• 1st Conference: Warsaw, Poland (7-12 May 1973)

Proceedings: Kozłowski, S. K. (1973) The Mesolithic in Europe. Papers read at the International Archaeological Symposium on the Mesolithic in Europe. Warsaw, May 7-12, 1973. Warsaw: Warsaw University Press.