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The Manipulative Complexity of Lower Paleolithic Stone Toolmaking

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  • Aldo Faisal
  • Dietrich Stout
  • Jan Apel
  • Bruce Bradley

Abstract

Background: Early stone tools provide direct evidence of human cognitive and behavioral evolution that is otherwise unavailable. Proper interpretation of these data requires a robust interpretive framework linking archaeological evidence to specific behavioral and cognitive actions. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we employ a data glove to record manual joint angles in a modern experimental toolmaker (the 4th author) replicating ancient tool forms in order to characterize and compare the manipulative complexity of two major Lower Paleolithic technologies (Oldowan and Acheulean). To this end we used a principled and general measure of behavioral complexity based on the statistics of joint movements. Conclusions/Significance: This allowed us to confirm that previously observed differences in brain activation associated with Oldowan versus Acheulean technologies reflect higher-level behavior organization rather than lower-level differences in manipulative complexity. This conclusion is consistent with a scenario in which the earliest stages of human technological evolution depended on novel perceptual-motor capacities (such as the control of joint stiffness) whereas later developments increasingly relied on enhanced mechanisms for cognitive control. This further suggests possible links between toolmaking and language evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldo Faisal & Dietrich Stout & Jan Apel & Bruce Bradley, 2010. "The Manipulative Complexity of Lower Paleolithic Stone Toolmaking," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(11), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0013718
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013718
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Etienne Burdet & Rieko Osu & David W. Franklin & Theodore E. Milner & Mitsuo Kawato, 2001. "The central nervous system stabilizes unstable dynamics by learning optimal impedance," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6862), pages 446-449, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Wang & Stephen J Lycett & Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel & Jennie J H Jin & Christopher J Bae, 2012. "Comparison of Handaxes from Bose Basin (China) and the Western Acheulean Indicates Convergence of Form, Not Cognitive Differences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-7, April.
    2. Elisa Bandini & Rachel A. Harrison & Alba Motes-Rodrigo, 2022. "Examining the suitability of extant primates as models of hominin stone tool culture," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.

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