Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.

<h4>Background</h4>Recent findings suggest that the North African Middle Stone Age technocomplex known as the Aterian is both much older than previously assumed, and certainly associated with fossils exhibiting anatomically modern human morphology and behavior. The Aterian is defined by...

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Autor principal:	Radu Iovita
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/494b994eb04a457ba211bc02600563ab
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:494b994eb04a457ba211bc02600563ab2021-11-18T07:31:32ZShape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0029029https://doaj.org/article/494b994eb04a457ba211bc02600563ab2011-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22216161/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>Recent findings suggest that the North African Middle Stone Age technocomplex known as the Aterian is both much older than previously assumed, and certainly associated with fossils exhibiting anatomically modern human morphology and behavior. The Aterian is defined by the presence of 'tanged' or 'stemmed' tools, which have been widely assumed to be among the earliest projectile weapon tips. The present study systematically investigates morphological variation in a large sample of Aterian tools to test the hypothesis that these tools were hafted and/or used as projectile weapons.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Both classical morphometrics and Elliptical Fourier Analysis of tool outlines are used to show that the shape variation in the sample exhibits size-dependent patterns consistent with a reduction of the tools from the tip down, with the tang remaining intact. Additionally, the process of reduction led to increasing side-to-side asymmetries as the tools got smaller. Finally, a comparison of shape-change trajectories between Aterian tools and Late Paleolithic arrowheads from the North German site of Stellmoor reveal significant differences in terms of the amount and location of the variation.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>The patterns of size-dependent shape variation strongly support the functional hypothesis of Aterian tools as hafted knives or scrapers with alternating active edges, rather than as weapon tips. Nevertheless, the same morphological patterns are interpreted as one of the earliest evidences for a hafting modification, and for the successful combination of different raw materials (haft and stone tip) into one implement, in itself an important achievement in the evolution of hominin technologies.Radu IovitaPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 6, Iss 12, p e29029 (2011)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Radu Iovita Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
description	<h4>Background</h4>Recent findings suggest that the North African Middle Stone Age technocomplex known as the Aterian is both much older than previously assumed, and certainly associated with fossils exhibiting anatomically modern human morphology and behavior. The Aterian is defined by the presence of 'tanged' or 'stemmed' tools, which have been widely assumed to be among the earliest projectile weapon tips. The present study systematically investigates morphological variation in a large sample of Aterian tools to test the hypothesis that these tools were hafted and/or used as projectile weapons.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Both classical morphometrics and Elliptical Fourier Analysis of tool outlines are used to show that the shape variation in the sample exhibits size-dependent patterns consistent with a reduction of the tools from the tip down, with the tang remaining intact. Additionally, the process of reduction led to increasing side-to-side asymmetries as the tools got smaller. Finally, a comparison of shape-change trajectories between Aterian tools and Late Paleolithic arrowheads from the North German site of Stellmoor reveal significant differences in terms of the amount and location of the variation.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>The patterns of size-dependent shape variation strongly support the functional hypothesis of Aterian tools as hafted knives or scrapers with alternating active edges, rather than as weapon tips. Nevertheless, the same morphological patterns are interpreted as one of the earliest evidences for a hafting modification, and for the successful combination of different raw materials (haft and stone tip) into one implement, in itself an important achievement in the evolution of hominin technologies.
format	article
author	Radu Iovita
author_facet	Radu Iovita
author_sort	Radu Iovita
title	Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
title_short	Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
title_full	Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
title_fullStr	Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
title_full_unstemmed	Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
title_sort	shape variation in aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2011
url	https://doaj.org/article/494b994eb04a457ba211bc02600563ab
work_keys_str_mv	AT raduiovita shapevariationinateriantangedtoolsandtheoriginsofprojectiletechnologyamorphometricperspectiveonstonetoolfunction
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Shape variation in Aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function.

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