Early hunter-gatherers in southern Africa, during the Middle Stone Age, displayed advanced material selection for crafting stone tools and spearheads, a study led by Dr. Patrick Schmidt of the University of Tbingen reveals.
Using a specialized model, researchers tested the force required to flake off pieces from rocks used at the Diepkloof Rock Shelter, near Cape Town, with findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Stone tools were crucial for early humans, with specific stones collected and napped to create implements like knives and scrapers.
Schmidt’s team, collaborating with experts from various fields, analyzed mechanical properties of rocks including quartzite, silcrete, and hornfels.
They developed a model to calculate force needed for flaking, shedding light on ancient tool-stone quality considerations.
The research highlights the sophisticated understanding of material properties by Middle Stone Age Africans, evident in their selective use of rocks suited to spec
ific tool forms.
Notably, finely crafted Still Bay Points were made from materials requiring minimal force during production yet withstanding high impact forces when used as projectiles, owing to fracture distribution dynamics.
These insights underscore early humans’ engineering prowess and resource utilization, providing valuable understanding of their journey towards modernity.
Schmidt emphasizes the significance of such findings in unraveling the ancestral processes shaping human development.
Source: Oman News Agency