Early Human Tool-Making Article
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Questions and Answers

Early human ancestors used specific rocks for their ______.

tools

Archaeologists Eiki Suga and Seiji Kadowaki are from ______ University in Japan.

Nagoya

The research focuses on prehistoric sites dating from ______ to 30,000 years ago.

70,000

The Jebel Qalkha area is important as ______ sapiens expanded into Eurasia.

<p>Homo</p> Signup and view all the answers

Early humans selected flint based on its ______.

<p>properties</p> Signup and view all the answers

Translucent and smooth flint could be easily shaped into ______ edges.

<p>sharp</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Schmidt Hammer measures the strength of ______ or rock.

<p>concrete</p> Signup and view all the answers

Fine-grained flint required less force to fracture than ______-grained flint.

<p>medium</p> Signup and view all the answers

Many stone tools from the Early Upper Paleolithic period were made from fine-grained ______.

<p>flint</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Rockwell device tests the rock's strength based on the depth of the ______ left behind.

<p>indentation</p> Signup and view all the answers

During the Late Middle Paleolithic and the Initial Upper Paleolithic periods, from 70,000 to 40,000 years ago, medium-grained ______ was more commonly used for tools.

<p>flint</p> Signup and view all the answers

Much of the fine-grained flint in the area had internal fractures caused by ______ activities.

<p>geological</p> Signup and view all the answers

Medium-grained flint was found to be more ______ for making larger tools.

<p>durable</p> Signup and view all the answers

Paleolithic humans made deliberate choices based on the intended use of the ______.

<p>tool</p> Signup and view all the answers

Suga explained that prehistoric humans had a sensory understanding of the characteristics of the ______.

<p>rocks</p> Signup and view all the answers

This research illustrates that the Paleolithic humans changed their choice of ______ to suit their stone tool morphologies.

<p>raw material</p> Signup and view all the answers

The intentional selection of the lithic raw material may have been an important component of the production of stone ______.

<p>tools</p> Signup and view all the answers

Examining the materials chosen for tools helps researchers understand how early humans adapted to their ______.

<p>environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

Research on ancient ______ shows that modern humans interacted and interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans.

<p>DNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

Each finding from archaeology adds a new piece to the puzzle of human ______.

<p>evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Fine-grained flint

Flint with a smooth, dense texture, easier to work with but prone to internal fractures.

Medium-grained flint

Flint with a rougher texture, harder to work with but more durable.

Levallois technique

A method of stone tool production used by early humans, resulting in large, robust blades.

Why did early humans sometimes choose medium-grained flint?

Even though medium-grained flint was harder to work with, it was more durable for making large tools, like Levallois products.

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Intentional selection of materials

Early humans consciously chose different types of flint based on the intended use of the tool.

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Technological sophistication

The ability to use tools effectively, understand different materials, and adapt to changing situations.

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Cultural remains

Objects left behind by past societies, such as stone tools, that provide insights into their lives.

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Environmental adaptation

The ability of a species to adjust to changes in their surroundings.

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Impact of tool choices

The selection of materials for tools reflects the ingenuity and adaptability of early humans.

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Archaeology's role

Studying ancient artifacts, like stone tools, provides valuable insights into human history and evolution.

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Jebel Qalkha

An area in Southern Jordan where early humans expanded from Africa into Eurasia, where they selected specific types of rocks for making tools.

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Flint

A type of rock used by early humans to make tools, often selected for its translucency and smoothness, making it easier to shape into sharp edges.

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Obsidian

A naturally occurring volcanic glass, often used by early humans to create sharp edges, but not specifically studied in this research.

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Middle Paleolithic

A period in human prehistory, roughly 300,000 to 40,000 years ago, characterized by early humans using more complex tools.

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Upper Paleolithic

A period in human prehistory, roughly 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, marked by the development of advanced stone tools and art.

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Schmidt Hammer

A device used to measure the strength of rocks by measuring the rebound of a hammer after hitting the surface.

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Rockwell Hardness Device

A device that measures the hardness of rocks by pressing a diamond point into the surface and analyzing the depth of the indentation.

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Translucent Flint

Flint that allows some light to pass through, often selected by early humans because it could create sharper edges.

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Study Notes

Early Human Tool-Making Insights

  • Early humans in southern Jordan (Jebel Qalkha) displayed sophisticated tool-making skills, selecting specific stone types for different tools.
  • Researchers (Suga and Kadowaki) studied flint nodules from 70,000 to 30,000 years ago.
  • They analyzed flint's properties using a Schmidt Hammer (measuring strength) and a Rockwell Hardness Device (measuring hardness).

Material Selection Preferences

  • Early humans sought translucent, smooth flint for ease of shaping into sharp edges.
  • Fine-grained flint, easier to fracture, was preferred for smaller tools during the Upper Paleolithic (40,000-30,000 years ago).
  • Medium-grained flint, though harder to modify, was used for larger tools (Levallois products, robust blades) during the Middle and Initial Upper Paleolithic (70,000-40,000 years ago).

Fracture-Based Material Choice

  • Fine-grained flint in the study area had internal fractures, hindering large-tool production.
  • This demonstrates purposeful material selection, balancing ease of production with tool durability.
  • Early humans adjusted their material choices based on intended tool morphology and production methods.

Cognitive Implications

  • These observations suggest a higher level of cognitive and technological sophistication in early humans.
  • Deliberate material selection was a crucial component of their tool-making processes.
  • This adaptability and problem-solving contributed to their survival strategies.

Evolutionary Significance

  • The study sheds light on the factors contributing to the expansion of Homo sapiens between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago.
  • Examining stone tools provides insights into human technological behavior, environmental adaptation, and population growth.
  • Archaeological discoveries offer crucial evidence for understanding human evolution.

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Description

Explore the sophisticated tool-making skills of early humans in southern Jordan, particularly at Jebel Qalkha. This quiz examines the material preferences and techniques used by prehistoric people in their production of tools from flint, shedding light on the evolution of human ingenuity during the Paleolithic era.

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