ABSTRACT
The concept of standardization has been applied in archaeological research as a proxy measure for cognitive and behavioral complexity since the late nineteenth century. Here we evaluate these issues in the context of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) examining microlithic technology and laminar blanks and their corresponding core reduction and tool assemblages from the Howiesons Poort (HP) and Sibhudan from Sibhudu (South Africa). We find both standardization and variability among different techno-typological components of these technocomplexes. Similar degrees of standardization characterize the metrics of the bladelet assemblages in the Sibhudan and the backed pieces in the HP, but they remain much more variable than products from craft specialists. We argue for a careful interpretation of standardization in lithic technology taking into account factors like raw material, technological redundancy, site use patterns, functionality and tool biographies. Standardization in lithic tools per se is not an ideal proxy measure for behavioral complexity.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank our friends, colleagues and students who worked with us in Sibhudu over the years and hence enabled us to conduct this study. Furthermore, we would like to thank Gavin Whitelaw from the KwaZulu-Natal Museum for curating the collection from Sibhudu and the patience he has repeatedly shown to facilitate our work in South Africa. MAB is grateful for the doctoral fellowship provided by the Landesgraduiertenförderung Baden-Württemberg. Lastly, we highly appreciate the stimulating comments of Christian Tryon and two anonymous reviewers, which improved the final version of this paper.
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Notes on contributors
Matthias A. Blessing
Matthias A. Blessing is a PhD candidate at the University of Tübingen in the Department of Geosciences, Working Group Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology. His research interests are microlithic technologies, experimental archaeology, theoretical archaeology and the evolution of modern humans.
Nicholas J. Conard
Nicholas J. Conard is Full Professor at the University of Tübingen and Chair of the Working Group Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology. His main areas of research include Paleolithic archaeology; Pleistocene chronostratigraphy; evolution and dispersal of modern humans; environmental reconstruction and settlement history of western Eurasia and Africa, as well as the origins of agriculture and sedentism.
Manuel Will
Manuel Will is a Lecturer at the University of Tübingen in the Department of Geosciences, Working Group Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology. His research interest are lithic analysis, behavioral adaptations and cultural evolution; body size evolution in the genus homo; theoretical archaeology and theoretical biology.