Earliest centripetal flaking system in eastern Eurasia reveals human behavioral complexity in late Middle Pleistocene China.

From the block to the blade: The contribution of lithic technology of the Villazette site (Creysse, Dordogne) to understanding the early stages of blade production in the Middle Magdalenian

Lithics from the lower gallery at La Garma (Zone IV): new data for an understanding of a Magdalenian site

The edge is already there: Experimental insights into the origins of stone tool technology

ABSTRACT Levallois technology is a particularly skilful and cognitively intensive lithic technology where preparatory core shaping is aimed at producing predetermined flake blanks. It has significant implications for hominin evolution and dispersals, yet remains notoriously difficult to define relative to other prepared cores. Significant variability in prepared core techno-morphology is often rendered into a handful of rarely agreed upon discrete categories. We ask whether existing classifications of cores are immutable, discrete groups, or whether there are unbroken continua of prepared core variability. With a bespoke set of 3D computational methods, we directly quantify the criteria used to define Levallois technology. Applied to a diverse sample of prepared cores from five African MSA sites, these methods establish continua of prepared core preparation, recurrence and exhaustion. Quantifying this continuous variability in how blanks are removed from cores can help holistically address past hominin technological decision making, investment and flexibility.

Homo sapiens emerged in Africa around 300 − 200 thousand years ago (ka). Although the earliest H. sapiens fossils are associated with the Middle Stone Age (MSA), lithic technologies considered diagnostic of the MSA have been found alongside Acheulian technology in eastern Africa and the interior of southern Africa by ~ 500 − 400 ka, suggesting a deep evolutionary history of our species in these regions. The southern coastal plain of South Africa, geographically separated from the interior by the Cape Fold Belt and Great Escarpment, has one of the best documented records of the MSA in Africa; however, only a single site is older than 125 ka and little is known about the origins of the MSA in this region. Here, we report a stratified sequence of Acheulian to MSA lithic assemblages from the open-air site of Amanzi Springs covering the period between ~ 379 to 95 ka. We show that the MSA emerged around 230 ± 18 ka, significantly earlier than previously documented along the southern coast. The pattern of technological change also differs to the interior, with no diagnostic MSA elements found in the late Acheulian, although persistent methods of flake production indicate a gradual transition and continuity into the MSA. The relatively late emergence of the MSA along the southern coast highlights the variable and complex nature of demographic and behavioural change during this period, with regionally distinct technological trajectories extending into the Middle Pleistocene in southern Africa.

ABSTRACT Cultural evolution has been a central topic in research addressing interactions between Mesolithic groups and Neolithic populations in Europe, commonly explored through of material culture such as ceramic decoration, personal ornaments, and geometric microliths. This study focuses on the experimental characterization of the factors that promoted cultural evolutionary processes in geometric microliths, specifically assessing the effects produced by different transmission mechanisms under distinct learning models. To this end, morphometric variation generated during the replication of these projectile forms was quantified using two experimental designs: linear transmission chains and constant groups. Our results complement previous studies that have examined cultural evolutionary dynamics through computational simulations and provide an empirical framework for testing models of cultural change in prehistoric contexts. By grounding these processes in experimentally derived morphometric variability, this study offers a basis for evaluating how different learning strategies shape the transmission, maintenance, and transformation of lithic technologies over time.

T The early sedentary societies of Antofagasta de la Sierra (southern Argentine Puna) have been studied through a model that proposes a mixed agro-pastoral settlement-subsistence system involving functionally complementary occupations across the different environmental sectors of the basin. In recent decades, a series of sites in the intermediate sectors of the basin have shown that the variability of the living spaces is broader than expected under the site-categorization scheme of the model (residential bases vs. logistical campsites). Within this framework, the techno-typological analysis of the lithic assemblage from Structure 4A (E4A) at the Las Escondidas site, located in the intermediate sector of the Miriguaca River ravine, addresses the functional expectations for sites in these sectors, characterized by particular environmental conditions. Furthermore, the indices of artifact diversity and homogeneity at this site allow these expectations to be evaluated relationally with other sites in the area. Taken together with the typological characterization of the assemblage, the raw materials, production trajectories, and the reconstruction of practices linked to the production and use of lithic tools at E4A, these data highlight previously overlooked aspects of lithic technology in the evaluation of settlement models and suggest possibilities of site occupation that may have been underestimated.

Contextualizing the Early Upper Paleolithic in the Negev Desert, southern Levant: Chronologies, lithic technologies, and paleoenvironments of the Boker sites.

The revolution that wasn't (again): reflections on the advent of lithic technology vs. AI.

The site of Skhidnytsia (Harema tract) is located on a dissected slope of the Skhidnytsia River valley. The cultural horizon was identified within a sequence of sandy and clayey deposits, lacking signs of significant reworking. The artefact-bearing layer lies in situ, without traces of water transport or secondary slope redeposition. The lithic assemblage is technologically and typologically uniform, consisting predominantly of small and, mainly, medium-sized fragments of hard, fine-grained, bedded rock – presumably argillite – and fine- to medium-grained sandstones, with occasional surface residues of cemented quartz sand. Manganese and iron oxide staining is locally present. Raw material occurred as discoid, tabular, and bar clasts, as well as pebbles; their technological properties varied according to density and consolidation. No volcanic rocks were found in the 2019 assemblage, although they were recorded in the 2018 survey collection. The artefacts are generally well preserved, covered by a pale-weathering crust up to 1.5 mm thick, often with an underlying ferruginous lamina. The absence of rounding, the joint occurrence of different-sized artefacts, the presence of microartefacts under 10 mm, and the refitting of some fragments confirm primary in situ position. Post-depositional alterations include splitting along bedding planes, and microcracking. Anthropogenic modification is evidenced by fracture patterns that cut across natural bedding, impact scars, evidence of repositioning, and occasional use of fragments as hammerstones or, in one case, an anvil. Similar morphological effects are observed regardless of raw material type. The technological aim was to obtain sharp edges through simple methods, primarily bipolar splitting, with occasional free-hand percussion. The assemblage is dominated by mainly retaining cortex massive, short-profile bipolar flakes, among which citrons are most numerous, including the specific «bars» with cortex on both proximal and distal ends. Typologically, the industry is extremely poor: mostly flakes, cores, segmented pieces of raw materials, and angular fragments and splinters, with intentional retouch virtually absent. A few choppers and chopping tools are present, although their recognition is somewhat conventional. Overall, the Skhidnytsia (Harema) industry represents an expedient lithic technology with minimal standardization, aimed at fragmenting stone to produce usable sharp edges with no formal tool shaping. The evidence indicates a highly simplified operational sequence and the local exploitation of readily available raw material. The Harema Industry should be attributed to the archaic circle of core-and-flake industries (Mode I). According to geological and geomorphological indications, its age is determined by the interval of the Kryzhanivka, Shyrokyne, and Martonosha stages (Waalian, Bavelian, and Cromerian, respectively).

ABSTRACT Lithic miniaturization is a widespread and technologically diverse phenomenon documented across the Old World during the late Late Pleistocene. However, its specific technical manifestation in South China remains poorly understood. The newly discovered Shanghu site provides critical insights into this question, preserving an abundant lithic assemblage dating to ∼26,000 years ago, within the cold phase of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2. The assemblage, rich in miniaturized quartz artifacts and predominated by diversified freehand knapping strategies, reflects significant regional diversity of miniaturized lithic assemblages in South China during MIS 2. This study presents an in-depth analysis of the potential relationship between the miniaturized production at Shanghu and raw material, as well as the climate. We suggest such miniaturization at Shanghu cannot be fully attributed to raw material properties alone, and may also be related to the technological response to adapt high-mobility subsistence strategy in the open environments of MIS 2.

Cultural accumulation or stasis? The impact of imitation and early teaching on hominin cultural evolution.

The lithic assemblage from the Gravettian site at Milovice I was predominantly composed of radiolarite. To reconstruct the mobility patterns of the Gravettian population, we addressed the question of whether the radiolarites were imported from the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) of the Western Carpathians or elsewhere. Another plausible source was the gravels from under the Pavlovské vrchy Hills. These are known to have been exploited in the Upper Palaeolithic, most notably at the Milovice I site during the Aurignacian. Our research revealed that local gravels were not the primary source of the Gravettian radiolarite artefacts, as the two differ macroscopically. Some flakes, and possibly microgravettes, are an exception, as their material is sometimes similar to gravel radiolarites. The occasional exploitation of local gravels, along with the small dimensions of the Gravettian industry, possibly reflects a shortage of material at a certain point of the site’s occupation and the necessity to adopt curated lithic technology when trips for new material were unfeasible. Moreover, the curated lithic technology observed in the Milovice I assemblage is dissimilar to other large Pavlovian sites, suggesting more economic behaviour and influence from radiolarite-supplied sites along the Váh River in the Late Gravettian.

The article is focused on studying the assemblage of complete burins from the Mizyn site. This study investigates the technological aspects of burin production and offers a typological classification. A considerable presence of artefacts with evidence of reutilisation was found, which points to the intensive use of these tools. This paper is a part of the research project “Epigravettian lithic technologies of tool production, use, and discard: a case study of the Mizyn industry” made possible with the support of the German Archaeological Institute within the framework of the fellowship program “Documenting, Recording and Saving Ukrainian Archaeological Heritage”. Keywords: Middle Dnipro basin, Epigravettian, Mizyn industry, lithics, burins, attribute analysis, technology, typology. Language: English

Establishment and application of the lithic technology strategy selection model for Late Paleolithic

The study of retouching, reshaping, and rejuvenation in lithic technology has traditionally focused on finished tools, overlooking the byproducts of these processes, particularly microdebitage. This emphasis has led to an incomplete understanding of the dynamic behaviours associated with tool maintenance and a lack of crucial information about prehistoric technological strategies. In this study, we address this knowledge gap. Specifically, we introduce a classification system for lithic byproducts resulting from retouching, reshaping, and rejuvenation techniques, categorising them into five modules (M0 through M4) based on lithic technological analysis. This methodology integrates the chaîne opératoire approach to analyse flakes without size thresholds. To demonstrate our approach, we apply it to lithic assemblages from two Middle Palaeolithic sites in Armenia, Kalavan 2 and Ararat-1 Cave. This enables a precise reconstruction of tool use-life and, in turn, the maintenance strategies of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Our findings demonstrate that microdebitage (byproducts) can contribute to a holistic view of decision-making, revealing patterns in tool maintenance and raw material provisioning. The module system provides insights on ‘ghost tools’ i., e., tools that are no longer present in the archaeological record, as well as curation behaviours and economic decisions regarding raw materials that were previously difficult to discern. By shifting the focus from finished artefacts to byproducts, this framework enhances our ability to interpret lithic assemblages and understand the adaptive strategies of prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

Abstract The behaviour, skills, and cognition of past hominins can be reconstructed from the traces of their technologies preserved in the archaeological record. Stone tools are one of the most abundant sources of this information. However, stone toolmaking expertise in the archaeological record is most frequently explored at the two extremes of skill, either the most remarkable feats of lithic technology, or the most obvious mistakes. Here, we instead explore knapper skill via the more frequent and more mundane aspects of lithic technology: unretouched flakes. We use a suite of 3D geometric methods to quantify higher versus lower skill in recurrent Levallois flakes. First, we demonstrate that these methods reliably differentiate the group of flakes made by an expert and an intermediate experimental knapper, and then we apply them to a pilot sample of recurrent Levallois flakes of three Middle Palaeolithic sites (Nesher Ramla, Qafzeh, and Kebara) belonging to three populations of Homo . Our results show that Middle Palaeolithic Levallois knapping was highly skilled, with careful control of Levallois flake volume, shape, edges, and symmetry. The Levallois flakes we examined from Kebara and Qafzeh were indistinguishable in how skilfully they were made, suggesting that, at least according to the metrics used here, these populations of Homo shared comparable levels of Levallois-making skill.

• The Nasera rockshelter is a key Stone Age site in northern Tanzania, with stratigraphy spanning from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) to the Pastoral Neolithic. • Level 22 at Nasera reveals an MSA industry characterized by discoid knapping methods, dominated by sidescrapers and bifacial and unifacial points. • The raw materials used, such as quartz and chert, are locally sourced, while the presence of obsidian suggests long-distance contact. • The study of level 22 contributes to challenges the monolithic view of the MSA, revealing greater technological complexity and human interactions. This study presents a techno-typological analysis of level 22 at the site of Nasera (northern Tanzania), shedding new light on the Kisele industry (Middle Stone Age) in the region. The lithic assemblage is predominantly characterized by discoid methods and the use of sidescrapers and points, both bifacial and unifacial. The raw materials used are primarily local in origin, including quartz and chert from Olduvai. However, the presence of a small number of obsidian pieces originating from Lake Naivasha basin suggests long-distance contact between MSA groups. In addition to the discoid methods, other operational schemes, such as the Levallois or the single platform, have been identified in smaller numbers, with higher-quality materials such as chert used in the Levallois. This indicates a greater variability in the number of production methods used than that previously identified for the Kisele industry. Comparisons with other regional industries, such as the older Sanzako, or contemporaneous ones like VCS and DGS at Olduvai or Loiyangalani in the Serengeti, show techno-typological differences that present a scenario of greater technological complexity and diversity than previously known for northern Tanzania.

The appearance of the Protoaurignacian in Europe around 42,000 years ago is widely believed to result from a major dispersal of anatomically modern Homo sapiens out of the Levant, a view primarily supported by perceived similarities between Mediterranean Protoaurignacian and Levantine Ahmarian stone tools. However, no quantitative technological comparison has yet thoroughly tested this connection. Here, we present the first systematic evaluation of lithic technology from Protoaurignacian assemblages in Italy and from the northern Ahmarian and post-Ahmarian layers at the reference sequence of Ksar Akil (Lebanon). Using attribute analysis and multivariate statistics, we assessed technological similarities and differences across different stages of the core reduction sequence. Our results demonstrate very limited affinities and distinct technological trajectories between the two regions. While the northern Ahmarian at Ksar Akil is characterized by bidirectional volumetric core reduction aimed at blade production, the Protoaurignacian exhibits a strong emphasis on bladelet production from unidirectional cores. Although lithic miniaturization trends are observed in both regions, the post-Ahmarian layers at Ksar Akil primarily produced twisted bladelets from burins and carinated cores-a feature uncommon in the Protoaurignacian. These findings challenge the hypothesis of a Levantine origin for the Protoaurignacian and, more broadly, suggest that technological convergence-driven by the growing importance of multicomponent projectile technology and increased mobility-played a central role. Thus, our study underscores the need to reconsider diffusionist explanations and emphasizes the central role of internal cultural innovation among foraging groups settled in different regions of the Old World in shaping the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic.