Specialized rainforest hunting by Homo sapiens ~45,000 years ago

Abstract

Defining the distinctive capacities of Homo sapiens relative to other hominins is a major focus for human evolutionary studies. It has been argued that the procurement of small, difficult-to-catch, agile prey is a hallmark of complex behavior unique to our species; however, most research in this regard has been limited to the last 20,000 years in Europe and the Levant. Here, we present detailed faunal assemblage and taphonomic data from Fa-Hien Lena Cave in Sri Lanka that demonstrates specialized, sophisticated hunting of semi-arboreal and arboreal monkey and squirrel populations from ca. 45,000 years ago, in a tropical rainforest environment. Facilitated by complex osseous and microlithic technologies, we argue these data highlight that the early capture of small, elusive mammals was part of the plastic behavior of Homo sapiens that allowed it to rapidly colonize a series of extreme environments that were apparently untouched by its hominin relatives.

The Pleistocene geoarchaeology and geochronology of Con Moong Cave, North Vietnam: Site formation processes and hominin activity in the humid tropics

“…However, new discoveries across MSEA have blurred the temporal and geographical boundaries of this technological change, rendering the "Hoabinhian" a nebulous archaeological concept, with no demonstrated environmental or economic driver (Ji et al, 2016;Marwick, 2018). As research across Southeast Asia suggests communities employed complex, forest-based procurement strategies from~40 ka and earlier (Bae et al, 2017;Barker et al, 2007;Hunt & Barker, 2014;Hunt, Gilbertson, & Rushworth, 2012;O'Connor & Bulbeck, 2014;Piper & Rabett, 2014;Rabett, 2018;Roberts, Perera, et al, 2015;Wedage et al, 2019), the vectors and chronology of hominin dispersal and adaptation within MSEA persist as enigmas.…”

Holocene climate variability and cultural dynamics in the Indian subcontinent

“…The microlith assemblages are largely comprised of geometric types which appear to have been developed from non-geometric microliths (e.g. points, microblades, burins, small flakes, different core types, thumbnail scrapers), the earliest of which occur at 48 ka in Sri Lanka (Wedage et al, 2019). The younger and more advanced geometric microlith types include crescents, lunates, triangles, trapezes, and so forth.…”

Examining the Origins of Hafting in South Asia

“…Substantial spatial, temporal and technological overlap is observed between the youngest Middle Palaeolithic and oldest Late Palaeolithic industries in South Asia (see , with the latter emerging from~45 ka onwards (Mishra et al 2013;Basak et al 2014;Wedage et al 2019). Continued trends from the Middle to Late Palaeolithic include further decrease in artefact sizes and increased focus on blade a bipolar reduction, whereas prepared core methods decline in frequency and microlithic tools replace typical Middle Palaeolithic retouched types (Clarkson et al 2012;Sali 1989;James 2011).…”

“…In both cases, further experimental studies and detailed analysis are necessary. At Fa Hien, four of five bone points dating to~45 ka exhibit damage consistent with high velocity impact through the use of projectile technology (Wedage et al 2019), with ongoing study of both the bone and stone tool assemblages aiming to document this further.…”

“…It grows increasingly clear that the application of functional methods such as use-wear and residue analysis is desperately required in South Asia, not only to identify the earliest evidence of hafting in the region but also to understand how changing hafting practices enabled new means of engagement with the region's ecological mosaic. For instance, changes in hafting methodologies may have enabled development of new stone tool technologies such as the origins of Late Palaeolithic industries, which appear with the earliest evidence for inhabiting the regions rainforests (Wedage et al 2019). Given the low levels of organic preservation in Palaeolithic sites in the Indian subcontinent, functional studies of hafted tools may provide an important window onto the use of non-lithic resources, opening up questions about the broader ecological engagement of Palaeolithic populations in South Asia.…”