An overview of standardizable raw materials for controlled knapping experiments

Snyder, William Daniel; Boysen, David; Figueroa, Jordy Didier Orellana; Tennie, Claudio; Reeves, Jonathan

doi:10.31219/osf.io/edkgc

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 45 publications

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“…The fracture of this flint is consistent and highly predictable; thus, it is considered a high-quality material for knapping (Saville 1981, pp. 1-2;Snyder et al 2023). • Flint from Ebro Valley, Zaragoza, Spain (FEV).…”

Section: Experimental Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces

Micó,

Cuartero,

Llamazares

et al. 2024

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Horse tooth retouchers have been identified in several Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites. They have been typically characterised as ‘soft’ hammers and/or grouped into the category of ‘bone retouchers’ at a technical level. Bone and teeth have different chemical compositions; teeth are denser and heavier than bone, and consequently, their technological features should not be considered homologous. In this work, we experimentally tested the effectiveness of horse teeth as retouchers. To perform this study, we used 41 modern horse teeth to shape flakes of various raw materials by applying different techniques. The resulting use-wear traces were analysed using high-resolution methods and then characterised. The results allowed us to identify the effectiveness of hypsodont teeth in knapping a wide range of tools and to evaluate the influence of 1) the raw materials, 2) the retouching techniques and 3) the gestures of the different knappers on the morphology of the use-wear marks. This work sheds light on the purpose of using teeth as tools by both Neanderthal and early modern human populations as well as understanding how these human species used them. The study leads us to consider tooth retouchers as important elements of the chaîne opératoire in lithic manufacture. Our goal is to highlight the importance of these types of experimental studies to create analogies and infer past processes.

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Section: Experimental Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces

Micó,

Cuartero,

Llamazares

et al. 2024

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Naïve, adult, captive chimpanzees do not socially learn how to make and use sharp stone tools

Bandini,

Tennie

2023

Sci Rep

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Although once regarded as a unique human feature, tool-use is widespread in the animal kingdom. Some of the most proficient tool-users are our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. These repertoires however consist primarily of tool use, rather than tool manufacture (for later use). Furthermore, most populations of chimpanzees use organic materials, such as sticks and leaves, rather than stones as tools. This distinction may be partly ecological, but it is also important as chimpanzees are often used as models for the evolution of human material culture, the oldest traces of which consist of manufactured sharp stone tools (so-called “flakes”). Thus, examining the conditions (if any) under which chimpanzees may develop flake manufacture and use can provide insight into the drivers of these behaviours in our own lineage. Previous studies on non-human apes’ ability to make and use flakes focused on enculturated apes, giving them full demonstrations of the behaviour immediately, without providing social information on the task in a stepwise manner. Here we tested naïve, captive chimpanzees (N = 4; three potentially enculturated and one unenculturated subject) in a social learning experimental paradigm to investigate whether enculturated and/or unenculturated chimpanzees would develop flake making and use after social information of various degrees (including a human demonstration) was provided in a scaffolded manner. Even though social learning opportunities were provided, neither the unenculturated subject nor any of the potentially enculturated subjects made or used flakes, in stark contrast to previous studies with enculturated apes. These data suggest that flake manufacture and use is outside of our tested group of captive chimpanzees’ individual and social learning repertoires. It also suggests that high levels of enculturation alongside human demonstrations (and/or training) may be required before captive chimpanzees can develop this behaviour.

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An overview of standardizable raw materials for controlled knapping experiments

Cited by 2 publications

References 45 publications

Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces

Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces

Naïve, adult, captive chimpanzees do not socially learn how to make and use sharp stone tools

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