Function, life histories, and biographies of Lower Paleolithic patinated flint tools from Late Acheulian Revadim, Israel

Abstract

Flint tools exhibiting modified patinated surfaces (“double patina”, or post-patination flaked items) provide a glimpse into Paleolithic lithic recycling, stone economy, and human choices. Different life cycles of such items are visually evident by the presence of fresh new modified surfaces alongside old patinated ones (according to color and texture differences). New modifications testify to a gap in time between the previous life cycle of the patinated flaked item and its new one. The aim of the current study is to reconstruct the functional properties and life cycles of a sample of modified patinated flaked tools from Late Acheulian Revadim, Israel by applying use-wear and residue analyses. The results of the functional study allow a better understanding of the practical reasoning behind the collection and recycling of old flint tools, while additional inputs from theoretical and methodological advancements assist in reconstructing their probable role in the worldviews of the site’s inhabitants.

Exploring the impact of mobility and selection on stone tool recycling behaviors through agent-based simulation

“…Current research focuses on identifying and characterizing recycling behaviors within layers or within sites [4,9,10,12,13,15,18,31]. Yet, recycling frequently involves activities offsite, such as scavenging of artifacts from other locations [11,15,18,28,30,33,34]. This means that recycling behaviors do not only affect the archaeological record at the location where recycled objects are found, but potentially also at offsite locations where other assemblages are disturbed by scavenging behaviors.…”