Evidence for Early Hafted Hunting Technology

Abstract

Hafting stone points to spears was an important advance in weaponry for early humans. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that ~500,000-year-old stone points from the archaeological site of Kathu Pan 1 (KP1), South Africa, functioned as spear tips. KP1 points exhibit fracture types diagnostic of impact. Modification near the base of some points is consistent with hafting. Experimental and metric data indicate that the points could function well as spear tips. Shape analysis demonstrates that the smaller retouched points are as symmetrical as larger retouched points, which fits expectations for spear tips. The distribution of edge damage is similar to that in an experimental sample of spear tips and is inconsistent with expectations for cutting or scraping tools. Thus, early humans were manufacturing hafted multicomponent tools ~200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Test, Model, and Method Validation: The Role of Experimental Stone Artifact Replication in Hypothesis-driven Archaeology

“…These experimental specimens subsequently served as a model against which the archaeological triangular flakes could be compared, which in turn were used to argue for support of the hypothesis. Although the results have been debated (McPherron et al 2014;Rots and Plisson 2014;Wilkins et al 2015), Wilkins et al's (2012) study illustrates the successful use of replication as model-that is, as a formalized means of establishing explicit parameters in order to compare archaeological data against modern, replicable data (Lycett and Chauhan 2010). Wilkins et al (2012) is one of several studies relating the identification of hunting function of stone artifacts to macrofractures.…”

“…Although the results have been debated (McPherron et al 2014;Rots and Plisson 2014;Wilkins et al 2015), Wilkins et al's (2012) study illustrates the successful use of replication as model-that is, as a formalized means of establishing explicit parameters in order to compare archaeological data against modern, replicable data (Lycett and Chauhan 2010). Wilkins et al (2012) is one of several studies relating the identification of hunting function of stone artifacts to macrofractures. Over the past three decades at least 28 experimental projects on six continents have demonstrated, often independently, that a distinct subset of macrofractures, known as impact fractures or "diagnostic" impact fractures, form as a result of stone and bone tools being projected into animal carcasses (Table 1).…”

“…One recent example of an experimental model is that of Wilkins et al (2012), who hypothesized that diagnostic impact fractures on triangular stone flakes indicated that spear points were being produced at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa, 500,000 years ago. To test this hypothesis, experimentally replicated spearpoints made from the same banded ironstone as the archaeological specimens were thrust into animal carcasses with a calibrated crossbow "to simulate a thrusting spear and keep force constant" (Wilkins et al 2012, 943).…”

The Conditions Favoring Between-Community Raiding in Chimpanzees, Bonobos, and Human Foragers

“…The latter may thus have begun to rise after the invention of these weapons (throwing spears), some 500,000 years ago (Wilkins et al 2012), and later intensified after the invention of bows and arrows. Likewise, the coordination of mid-sized or larger raids, which cannot rely on men simply coming together for a hunt, may also have required language, which arose around the same time or earlier (Dediu and Levinson 2013).…”

Middle Stone Age Technology and Cultural Evolution at Magubike Rockshelter, Southern Tanzania

“…This speciation event occurred amidst a mosaic backdrop of significant behavioural change, which may have begun as early as~500,000 years ago and became consolidated in the Later Stone Age (LSA) (Burdukiewicz 2014;Henshilwood 2007;McBrearty 2013;McBrearty and Brooks 2000;Shea 2011;Wilkins et al 2015). During this time humans began to create sophisticated tools from both lithic and perishable materials such as wood and bone (Barham 2002;Leplongeon 2014;Yellen et al 1995), to engage in long-distance exchange (Barut 1994;Mehlman 1989), to exploit a variety of ecosystems including marine coastlines (Arzarello et al 2013;Barham 2002;Broadhurst et al 2002;Drake et al 2011;Jerardino and Marean 2010;Marean 2011;Marean et al 2007;Walter et al 2000), and to produce art and personal adornment (Bar-Yosef Mayer et al 2009;D'Errico et al 2005;Henshilwood et al 2002Henshilwood et al , 2004Henshilwood et al , 2009Hovers et al 1997;Mackay and Welz 2008;Miller and Willoughby 2014;Willoughby 2007).…”