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Life on the edge: Mesolithic population size and viability on Malta
James Blinkhorn1,2, Lucy Timbrell1,2, Matt Grove1
1Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12-14 Abercromby Square, Liverpool L69 7WZ, Merseyside, United Kingdom.
PNAS Nexus
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Early seafaring in the Mediterranean required sustained sea crossings. Modeling shows Malta could not support Mesolithic hunter-gatherers alone, necessitating repeated long-distance voyages.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleoclimatology
- Anthropology
Background:
- Mesolithic/Epipalaeolithic discoveries in Malta and Tunisia suggest early sea crossings.
- Understanding the scale of early seafaring is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- Model sea-level change impacts on land connectivity between Sicily and Malta.
- Predict population sizes to assess Mesolithic hunter-gatherer persistence on Malta.
- Evaluate the necessity of sustained sea connections.
Main Methods:
- Utilized sea-level change reconstructions and bathymetric models.
- Assessed changes in land area and connectivity.
- Calculated net primary productivity and translated to population density using ethnographic data.
- Estimated population sizes and minimum sea voyage distances.
Main Results:
- Post-disconnection, Malta could not sustain a persistent forager population.
- The Maltese Mesolithic record (minimum 1000 years) cannot be explained by isolation.
- Repeated, long-distance sea voyaging is the only explanation for Mesolithic occupation longevity.
Conclusions:
- Sustained sea voyaging was essential for Mesolithic Malta.
- This implies potential for reaching other Mediterranean islands.
- Explains European hunter-gatherer ancestry presence in North Africa.
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