Scraper reduction and “imposed form” at the Lower Palaeolithic site of High Lodge, England

The First Appearance of Symmetry in the Human Lineage: Where Perception Meets Art

“…The shape of earlier Acheulean tools seem, however, to be less refined than those from about 500,000 BP (although what are termed "occasionals" appear before this period [35] (see, for example, Figure 1), when not only was there a greater concern for mirror symmetry but also more complex kinds of symmetries began to appear, such as twisted and broken symmetry [4]. One remarkable feature of this concern was that it continued for a prolonged period over such a vast area, which has led some scholars to suggest that symmetry arose coincidentally from the knapping or resharpening procedure [6,[36][37][38]. A growing consensus nevertheless contends that, with the arrival of more refined handaxes, symmetry became somewhat more detached from functional dictates in that a disinterested or more derived awareness toward in its broadest sense, is an indication that something remains the same despite change.…”

Fat Residue and Use-Wear Found on Acheulian Biface and Scraper Associated with Butchered Elephant Remains at the Site of Revadim, Israel

“…Scrapers are commonly defined as tools shaped on flakes with one edge modified to enable tasks other than straight-forward cutting. Scrapers appear in many Lower Palaeolithic sites and continue to be in the service of humans in later periods as well [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. While scrapers are usually interpreted as wood and hide working tools, recent evidence suggest their use in butchering activities as well [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

The evolution and stability of stone tools: The effects of different mobility scenarios in tool reduction and shape features

“…The shapes of prehistoric tools have been understood as a reflection of many different concepts, depending on the theoretical framework in which a particular lithic study was conducted. From classificatory approaches to dynamic interpretations, changes in the morphological features of tools have been linked to cognitive capabilities (Holloway, 1969;Gowlett, 2006), style (Lenoir, 1975;Tiffagom, 2003), cultural transmission (Lycett, 2008;Buchanan and Collard, 2010;Schillinger et al, 2014), mobility dynamics (Shott, 1986;Blades, 2003;Sellet, 2013), site function (Bachelleire et al, 2011), reduction (Dibble, 1984(Dibble, , 1987bMcPherron, 1995;Shott and Ballenger, 2007;Brumm and McLaren, 2011;Eren et al, 2013) and many other aspects of the behaviors of prehistoric peoples.…”