Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in microliths primarily reflects cultural differences among the makers. This forms the basis for differentiating major cultural/temporal traditions in the late Epipalaeolithic of southwest Asia. An alternative explanation for morphological variability is proposed which emphasizes the dynamic aspects of lithic technology in hunter-gatherer societies and questions current explanations of culture change.
We thank those whose interest in the Levantine Epipalaeolithic has led them to comment on our research. Such public discussion of differing interpretations is vital to understanding the past. In this article, we briefly respond to some of the points raised by those writing in this issue (G.A. Clark, N. Goring-Morris, D.O. Henry and J.L. Phillips) and in a previous issue (Fellner 1995; Kaufman 1995) of ANTIQUITY.
The shift to microlithic technologies is a widespread phenomenon over much of the globe during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The occurrence of microliths in diverse geographical and temporal settings is a testament to their versatility and importance as a solution to the problems of survival. Using a perspective based on evolutionary theory, the adoption of microliths in the Levant is viewed from both a long‐term, regional perspective involving resource procurement and a short‐term, site‐centered perspective focusing on mobility strategies. The results suggest that microliths are correlated with changes in forager behavior associated with resource procurement and mobility and that an evolutionary framework is useful for addressing this process.
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