The ideas of Stjerna and Obermaier introduced a certain ambiguity into the terminology, which subsequent archaeologists found and find confusing. Epipaleolithic and Protoneolithic cover the same cultures, more or less, as does the Mesolithic. Publications on the Stone Age after 1916 include some sort of explanation of this ambiguity, leaving room for different views. Strictly speaking the Epipaleolithic is the earlier part of the Mesolithic. Some identify it with the Mesolithic. To others it is an Upper Paleolithic transition to the Mesolithic. The exact use in any context depends on the archaeological tradition or the judgement of individual archaeologists. The issue continues.
THE idEas of sTjERna AnD obermaIer intRoduced A CeRtain AmBiguitY into the terminoLogy, WhIch SubseqUEnt archaEologists found aNd find coNFuSing. ePipaleoliTHic and pRotonEolithiC cover THE sAme cUlTUres, More or less, aS does THe mEsolithic. pubLicatIonS On the sTonE age AfTer 1916 INclude SOme sOrt Of eXplANAtion oF thiS aMbIgUitY, lEavInG Room For dIffeReNt views. STrIctLy sPEAKinG The epipaleOlithic is The earlieR paRt Of The mEsolithIC. Some identIfy It WitH the mESolIThIC. To otHers it is AN uPper paleoLIthIc transitiOn tO the mesoliTHIc. tHe exacT USe In any COntExt DePeNds ON tHe archaEolOgicaL tRaDiTIoN or The jUdgeMEnT of indivIdual arChaeolOgiSts. The iSSue cONTiNueS.