Variability of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Microlithic Industries in Northern and Eastern Africa

Variability of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Microlithic Industries in Northern and Eastern Africa PDF Author: Latifa Sari
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031182030
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 197

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Book Description
This book addresses the question of variability in backed bladelet-based technologies. It also examines the role of LSA microlithic industries as adaptive strategies for coping with paleoenvironmental changes in North Africa. The multidisciplinary research activities conducted in caves and open-air sites in North Africa over the past two decades have highlighted the importance of this region for understanding the development of LSA microlithic technologies in Africa. This book, therefore, enriches the debate of origin and the spread of Late Pleistocene microlithic technologies in North Africa and beyond. Previously published in African Archaeological Review Volume 37, issue 3, September 2020

Early Microlithic Technologies and Behavioural Variability in Southern Africa and South Asia

Early Microlithic Technologies and Behavioural Variability in Southern Africa and South Asia PDF Author: Laura Lewis
Publisher: BAR International Series
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
This volume provides the first exploration of variability in two of the earliest microlithic industries in the world: the Howiesons Poort of southern Africa and the Late Palaeolithic of South Asia. It demonstrates the independent innovation of microlithic technology, and has implications for our understanding of modern human behaviour and disper...

Culture History and Convergent Evolution

Culture History and Convergent Evolution PDF Author: Huw S. Groucutt
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030461262
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 302

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Book Description
This volume brings together diverse contributions from leading archaeologists and paleoanthropologists, covering various spatial and temporal periods to distinguish convergent evolution from cultural transmission in order to see if we can discover ancient human populations. With a focus on lithic technology, the book analyzes ancient materials and cultures to systematically explore the theoretical and physical aspects of culture, convergence, and populations in human evolution and prehistory. The book will be of interest to academics, students and researchers in archaeology, paleoanthropology, genetics, and paleontology. The book begins by addressing early prehistory, discussing the convergent evolution of behaviors and the diverse ecological conditions driving the success of different evolutionary paths. Chapters discuss these topics and technology in the context of the Lower Paleolithic/Earlier Stone age and Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age. The book then moves towards a focus on the prehistory of our species over the last 40,000 years. Topics covered include the human evolutionary and dispersal consequences of the Middle-Upper Paleolithic Transition in Western Eurasia. Readers will also learn about the cultural convergences, and divergences, that occurred during the Terminal Pleistocene and Holocene, such as the budding of human societies in the Americas. The book concludes by integrating these various perspectives and theories, and explores different methods of analysis to link technological developments and cultural convergence.

Convergent Evolution in Stone-Tool Technology

Convergent Evolution in Stone-Tool Technology PDF Author: Michael J. O'Brien
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262552086
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
Scholars from a variety of disciplines consider cases of convergence in lithic technology, when functional or developmental constraints result in similar forms in independent lineages. Hominins began using stone tools at least 2.6 million years ago, perhaps even 3.4 million years ago. Given the nearly ubiquitous use of stone tools by humans and their ancestors, the study of lithic technology offers an important line of inquiry into questions of evolution and behavior. This book examines convergence in stone tool-making, cases in which functional or developmental constraints result in similar forms in independent lineages. Identifying examples of convergence, and distinguishing convergence from divergence, refutes hypotheses that suggest physical or cultural connection between far-flung prehistoric toolmakers. Employing phylogenetic analysis and stone-tool replication, the contributors show that similarity of tools can be caused by such common constraints as the fracture properties of stone or adaptive challenges rather than such unlikely phenomena as migration of toolmakers over an Arctic ice shelf. Contributors R. Alexander Bentley, Briggs Buchanan, Marcelo Cardillo, Mathieu Charbonneau, Judith Charlin, Chris Clarkson, Loren G. Davis, Metin I. Eren, Peter Hiscock, Thomas A. Jennings, Steven L. Kuhn, Daniel E. Lieberman, George R. McGhee, Alex Mackay, Michael J. O'Brien, Charlotte D. Pevny, Ceri Shipton, Ashley M. Smallwood, Heather Smith, Jayne Wilkins, Samuel C. Willis, Nicolas Zayns

The Archaeology of Southern Africa

The Archaeology of Southern Africa PDF Author: Peter Mitchell
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521633895
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description
This book provides an archaeological synthesis of Southern Africa.

Quaternary Geoarchaeology of India

Quaternary Geoarchaeology of India PDF Author: N. Tiwari
Publisher: Geological Society of London
ISBN: 1786205483
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
The Quaternary Period in South Asia has a very prolonged and diverse history. Within this region, India represents various technological and cultural phases of hominin occupation adapting to different ecological zones throughout the Quaternary Period. The earliest records of this occupation can be traced back to 1.5 Ma ago and possibly to c. 2 Ma ago. Archaeological evidence has been reported from all known phases in India, showing a continuous record of occupation from the Early Pleistocene onwards and reflecting adaptation by multiple hominin species over time. This book aims to highlight recent advances in the Quaternary geoarchaeology by showcasing diverse methods such as archaeology, geology, palaeoclimatology, sedimentology, GIS, remote sensing and taphonomy. It presents a collection of papers that address various geoarchaeological aspects from different regions in India, within the time frame of the Early Pleistocene to Anthropocene. This volume provides an opportunity for new data to be disseminated, particularly by young researchers and, within the framework of worldwide research issues, it promotes new geoarchaeological perspectives from India.

Prehistoric Stone Tools of Eastern Africa

Prehistoric Stone Tools of Eastern Africa PDF Author: John J. Shea
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108424430
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 309

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Book Description
A detailed overview of the Eastern African stone tools that make up the world's longest archaeological record.

Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory

Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory PDF Author: Eric Delson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135582289
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 780

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Book Description
Praise for the first edition: "The most up-to-date and wide-ranging encyclopedia work on human evolution available."--American Reference Books Annual "For student, researcher, and teacher...the most complete source of basic information on the subject."--Nature "A comprehensive and authoritative source, filling a unique niche...essential to academic libraries...important for large public libraries." --Booklist/RBB

Thinking Small

Thinking Small PDF Author: Robert G. Elston
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Paleontology
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description


Uan Tabu in the Settlement History of the Libyan Sahara

Uan Tabu in the Settlement History of the Libyan Sahara PDF Author: Elena A. A. Garcea
Publisher: All’Insegna del Giglio
ISBN: 8878141844
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Uan Tabu is a rockshelter on the left bank of the central valley of the Wadi Teshuinat, which is a main ancient water course in the Tadrart Acacus mountain range. It is located in the Fezzan region, south-western Libya (Great Jamahirya). The site was discovered by Fabrizio Mori in 1960 and was re-excavated and studied by a multi-disciplinary team at the beginning of the 1990s. It has also remarkable rock art that includes paintings from the Round Head and Pastoral phases. Between 1960 and 1963, a trench was dug into the archaeological deposit at the foot of the rock wall. The results of the 1960s’ excavation have never been published before, apart from some brief notes. They are thoroughly described and discussed in the present volume. Between 1990 and 1993, the excavation was resumed and extended. The 1990s’ excavation has been preliminarily published. Further information and details are now presented and commented. A stratigraphic and cultural correlation between the two excavations is also attempted in this volume. Four main archaeological and paedological units were identified and dated. They spanned from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene. The earliest one, dating to the Pleistocene, included an Aterian techno-complex and was dated to around 61,000 years BP. Later, during the Early Holocene, a ‘pre-pastoral’ occupation occurred since the 10th millennium bp. This period was differentiated in two phases characterised by different socio-cultural systems: 1. during the Early Acacus (around 9800-8800 years bp), the site was used on a seasonal basis, probably during the dry season, for practising hunting activities; 2. during the Late Acacus (around 8800-8600 years bp), a more sedentary lifestyle was hypothesised for the inhabitants of the site. These two cultural facies comprised the upper three units. The fourth phase of occupation of the shelter was only attested to the surface of the site, but it could be still considered as an indication of the use of the site during the Late Holocene, as late as the 4th millennium bp. A dung fill in the wall of the rockshelter dated to the end of this, Late Pastoral, phase and is the only evidence for domesticated animals.