The Mesolithic period, also known as the Middle Stone Age, occurred between the end of the last Ice Age and the beginning of agriculture, roughly 10,000 to 5,000 BCE. This era is characterized by the development of small, specialized tools made from stone, bone, and wood, which were used for hunting, fishing, and gathering. During the Mesolithic, humans began to adapt to changing environments, leading to more diverse diets and settlement patterns. People often lived in temporary camps and relied on natural resources, such as wild game, fish, and berries, while gradually transitioning towards more permanent agricultural lifestyles in the subsequent Neolithic period.