Technological persistency following faunal stability during the Pleistocene: A model for reconstructing Paleolithic adaptation strategies based on mosaic evolution

Abstract

Prehistoric archaeology focuses on innovations, transformations, and turnovers. We focus instead on persistency, suggesting that technological persistency in prehistoric hunter-gatherers was triggered by the stability of prey. The technological persistency-faunal stability nexus was not only crucial to human prosperity but also provided safe ground for technological and behavioral innovations, facilitating further adaptation to changing conditions. This can be viewed in the framework of mosaic evolution. We present six cases of morphological stasis enabling trophic adaptations and five archaeological cases of technological persistency following faunal stability. This model could contribute to a better understanding of technological persistency and its evolutionary role.