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  • Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone

    From Primum Sapienti@21:1/5 to All on Tue Oct 19 23:00:54 2021
    https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2019.0377
    Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone
    Age of
    Olduvai Gorge

    Abstract
    For more than 1.8 million years hominins at Olduvai Gorge were faced with
    a choice: whether to use lavas, quartzite or chert to produce stone tools.
    All
    are available locally and all are suitable for stone tool production. Using controlled cutting tests and fracture mechanics theory we examine raw
    material selection decisions throughout Olduvai's Early Stone Age. We
    quantify the force, work and material deformation required by each stone
    type when cutting, before using these data to compare edge sharpness and durability. Significant differences are identified, confirming performance to depend on raw material choice. When combined with artefact data, we
    demonstrate that Early Stone Age hominins optimized raw material choices
    based on functional performance characteristics. Doing so flexibly: choosing raw materials dependent on their sharpness and durability, alongside a tool's loading potential and anticipated use-life. In this way, we demonstrate that early lithic artefacts at Olduvai Gorge were engineered to be functionally optimized cutting tools.

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  • From DD'eDeN aka note/nickname/alas_my_l@21:1/5 to Primum Sapienti on Wed Oct 20 20:17:31 2021
    On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 1:00:55 AM UTC-4, Primum Sapienti wrote:
    https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2019.0377
    Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone
    Age of
    Olduvai Gorge

    Abstract
    For more than 1.8 million years hominins at Olduvai Gorge were faced with
    a choice: whether to use lavas, quartzite or chert to produce stone tools. All
    are available locally and all are suitable for stone tool production. Using controlled cutting tests and fracture mechanics theory we examine raw material selection decisions throughout Olduvai's Early Stone Age. We quantify the force, work and material deformation required by each stone
    type when cutting, before using these data to compare edge sharpness and durability. Significant differences are identified, confirming performance to depend on raw material choice. When combined with artefact data, we demonstrate that Early Stone Age hominins optimized raw material choices based on functional performance characteristics. Doing so flexibly: choosing raw materials dependent on their sharpness and durability, alongside a tool's loading potential and anticipated use-life. In this way, we demonstrate that early lithic artefacts at Olduvai Gorge were engineered to be functionally optimized cutting tools.

    But but but but they they they are are are are just just just rocks!!!1!

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