A techno-functional perspective on quartz micro-notches in Sibudu's Howiesons Poort indicates the use of barbs in hunting technology

Peña, Paloma de la; Taipale, Noora; Wadley, Lyn; Rots, Veerle

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2018.03.001

Cited by 46 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…It is well known that stone tools are often only a part of the entire technological system comprising the design of implements and weapons which includes the necessary know-how related to ballistics, hafting, fletching etc … In the case of the Uluzzian, this is apparent as shown by the occurrences of lunates displaying clear traces of impact fractures, suggesting their use as armatures in throw 21 ing weapons (Sano et alSano et al, 2019). A similar use can be supposed for flakelets and bladelets produced by bipolar technique, as hinted at by some ethnographic, archaeological and experimental instances (White and White, 1968;Chauchat et al, 1985;Shott, 1989;Crovetto et al, 1994;Le Brun-Ricalens, 2006;Riel-Salvatore, 2009;de la Peña et al, 2018;Moroni et al, 2018a), and underpinned by the very preliminary results from the use-wear studies carried out on a few elements from Cavallo, Castelcivita and Uluzzo C. Lithic technology is a proxy for human behaviour as well. Bipolar technique has been commonly recognised as an "expedient" production system used to save time and energy during possible "crisis" conditions (Callahan, 1987;Shott, 1989;Jeske, 1992;Hiscock, 1996;Diez-Martín et al, 2011;Mackay and Marwick, 2011;Eren et al, 2013;Morgan et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Lithic techno-complexes in Italy from 50 to 39 thousand years BP: An overview of lithic technological changes across the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary

Marciani

Ronchitelli

Arrighi

et al. 2020

Quaternary International

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Lithic techno-complexes in Italy from 50 to 39 thousand years BP: An overview of lithic technological changes across the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary

Marciani

Ronchitelli

Arrighi

et al. 2020

Quaternary International

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“…A basic description of lithic material at Fa-Hien Lena was published in Wedage et al [26] Supplementary Note 3 but, to date, no detailed systematic analysis of lithic production strategies, forms, and materials has been available. Here, we focus on the production processes, as well as raw materials and metrics, of Sri Lankan microliths and their débitage , from Late Pleistocene and Holocene contexts, thereby bringing them in line with descriptions of similar toolkits in other parts of the world [71–74]. All relevant analytical permits were obtained from the Department of Archaeology, Government of Sri Lanka for the work.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microliths in the South Asian rainforest ~45-4 ka: New insights from Fa-Hien Lena Cave, Sri Lanka

et al. 2019

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Microliths–small, retouched, often-backed stone tools–are often interpreted to be the product of composite tools, including projectile weapons, and efficient hunting strategies by modern humans. In Europe and Africa these lithic toolkits are linked to hunting of medium- and large-sized game found in grassland or woodland settings, or as adaptations to risky environments during periods of climatic change. Here, we report on a recently excavated lithic assemblage from the Late Pleistocene cave site of Fa-Hien Lena in the tropical evergreen rainforest of Sri Lanka. Our analyses demonstrate that Fa-Hien Lena represents the earliest microlith assemblage in South Asia (c. 48,000–45,000 cal. years BP) in firm association with evidence for the procurement of small to medium size arboreal prey and rainforest plants. Moreover, our data highlight that the lithic technology of Fa-Hien Lena changed little over the long span of human occupation (c. 48,000–45,000 cal. years BP to c. 4,000 cal. years BP) indicating a successful, stable technological adaptation to the tropics. We argue that microlith assemblages were an important part of the environmental plasticity that enabled Homo sapiens to colonise and specialise in a diversity of ecological settings during its expansion within and beyond Africa. The proliferation of diverse microlithic technologies across Eurasia c. 48–45 ka was part of a flexible human ‘toolkit’ that assisted our species’ spread into all of the world’s environments, and the development of specialised technological and cultural approaches to novel ecological situations.

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“…The Howiesons Poort (HP) is one of the most intensively discussed periods of the Late Pleistocene Middle Stone Age (MSA) in southern Africa. This is in part due to outstanding complex material culture, such as geometrically engraved ostrich eggshells and worked ochre pieces [ 1 – 7 ], found in association with blade-based industries, from which blanks are backed and hafted as possible arrows heads [ 8 – 10 ] and barbs [ 11 ], or used as cutting tools [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Howiesons Poort lithic sequence of Klipdrift Shelter, southern Cape, South Africa

et al. 2018

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Howiesons Poort (HP) sites, over the past decades, have provided exceptional access to anthropogenic remains that are enhancing our understanding of early modern human behaviour during the Middle Stone Age in southern Africa. Here, we analyse the technological and typological trends in the lithic record that form part of these behaviours, based on the HP sequence recently excavated at Klipdrift Shelter, located on the southern Cape coast of South Africa. This study contributes to enhance knowledge on the mechanisms of changes that occurred during the transition to the post-HP. Despite patterns of continuity observed, notably for core reduction methods, the seven successive lithic assemblages show significant changes in the typological characteristics and raw material selection but also in the relative importance of blade production over time. However, these changes are not necessarily synchronic and occur either as gradual processes or as abrupt technological shifts. Consequently, we cross-examine the association between the lithic phasing and other anthropogenic remains within the HP sequence at Klipdrift Shelter. We explore the implications of these patterns of changes in terms of cultural behaviours and population dynamics during the HP and we highlight the relationship between the different phases of the HP sequence at Klipdrift Shelter and those from other South African HP sites.

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A techno-functional perspective on quartz micro-notches in Sibudu's Howiesons Poort indicates the use of barbs in hunting technology

Cited by 46 publications

References 65 publications

Lithic techno-complexes in Italy from 50 to 39 thousand years BP: An overview of lithic technological changes across the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary

Lithic techno-complexes in Italy from 50 to 39 thousand years BP: An overview of lithic technological changes across the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary

Microliths in the South Asian rainforest ~45-4 ka: New insights from Fa-Hien Lena Cave, Sri Lanka

The Howiesons Poort lithic sequence of Klipdrift Shelter, southern Cape, South Africa

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