THE STONE TECHNOLOGIES OF EARLY HOMINIDS AT KOOBI FORA, KENYA: AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH.

摘要

A holistic study of the stone technologies of early hominids from Koobi Fora, Kenya, was conducted to gain a better understanding of their modes of manufacture and use.;Raw material sources, both ancient and modern, were studied to determine whether early hominids were selective in their acquisition of lithic materials for tools. The mechanical and functional properties of the major rock types exploited are also discussed.;An experimental replicative program was designed to better understand the techniques and strategies employed by early hominids and implications about their strength, skill, and manual dexterity. Controlled experiments in producing characteristic core and retouched forms were conducted and debitage patterns studied in detail. From the results of these experiments computer simulations were generated to study the effects of differential curation of lithic materials by hominids as well as different degrees of water action on an archaeological site. Based on the types of cores and retouched pieces found at the archaeological sites, simulations were generated to predict expected flake populations, and the results of these compared to the archaeological samples of flakes. Studies of later Acheulean technology are also discussed.;Functional experiments using experimental replicas of Koobi Fora artifact forms were conducted to gauge their capabilities for different tasks, including animal butchery (from goat to elephant sizes), woodworking, and hide-working. Lines of evidence from striations on archaeological faunal material as well as microwear polishes on stone tools are considered.;The excavated archaeological assemblages were examined to gain an appreciation of the range of technologies represented from early Pleistocene sites at Koobi Fora. Seven archaeological sites were then analyzed in detail and formed the basis for the experimental programs.