"If you like it then you should of put a permanent settlement on it".

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With the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic period, we begin to see a change in the lifestyles of the people living during this period. The Upper Paleolithic evidence shows the beginning of pre-agriculture sedentary sites in Europe and Asia. Archaeological data provides evidence for a change in the settlements, allowing for expansion, sedentary sites and site organization. The evidence suggests a more permanent base camp and other smaller sites that are used for specific purpsoses. Overall, in the Upper Paleolithic period, we are seeing sites that are occupied for longer periods of time. ("Upper Paleolithic Sites in Europe" Hirst, 2012)

Along with changes in the settlement patterns of villages, the Upper Paleolithic also has changes in a number of other lifestyle characteristics such as:

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1. Changes in Subsistence and Hunting Techniques.
This involves the decrease in focus on big game and instead a movement towards a wide diversity of food sources such as: marine resources, plants, small mammals, fish, and some big game. Hunting specialization also occurs as the Upper Paleolithic focuses on hunting mammoths and reindeer. There is also an increase in the fishing industry of the Upper Paleolithic. The Upper Paleolithic becomes known for a Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle. (Pyburn, 2012)

2. Symoblic Behaviours become Elaborate.
The burials periods of the Upper Paleolithic are still deliberate, like the Middle Paleolithic, but now are rich in art and symbolism. (Riel-Salvatore, 2001)

3. Social Organizations
Internal organization of sites for different activities, within the village, is a common found practice during the Upper Palaeolithic. As mentioned above, the complexity of sites increases in the Upper Paleolithic. ("Upper Paleolithic Sites in Europe" Hirst, 2012)

4. Beginnings of Animal Domestication

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Evidence from sites in Germany and Russia imply that animal, more specifically dog, domestication began during the Upper Paleolithic period. ("European Paleolithic Dogs" Hirst, 2012)

With this last point, the domestication of animals, we thank the Upper Paleolithic for allowing us all the ability to live with "Man's Best Friend". This concludes today's post in "The What's What and Who's Who of the Upper Paleolithic" blog.

Citations: 
1. Hirst, K. Kris. "European Paleolithic Dogs." Archaeology - The Study of Human History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. <http://archaeology.about.com/od/domestications/qt/European-Paleolithic-Dogs.htm>

2. Hirst, K. Kris "Upper Paleolithic Sites in Europe - European Upper Paleolithic." Arcaheology - the Study of Human History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. <http://archaeology.about.com/od/upperpaleolithic/tp/Upper-Paleolithic-Sites-In-Europe.htm>

3. Pyburn, Anne. "Introduction to Archaeology: Hunter-Gatherers, the Emergence of Modern humans, the Mesolithic." Indiana University. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.

4. Riel-Salvatore, Julien. "Middle and Early Upper Paleolithic Burials and the Use of Chronotypology in contemporary Paleolithic Research" Current Anthropology 42 (2001): n. pag Academia. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.