It is known that small stone tools increased in various places around 5 to 4 years ago when only modern humans survived while the Neanderthals and other archaic humans became extinct.From this point, the image of small stone tools as "an excellent invention by modern human beings" preceded, but in reality, many unclear points remained about the process and reasons for the appearance of small stone tools.

 Therefore, this time, groups such as Nagoya University and the University of Tulsa in the United States conducted a site survey in Jordan, West Asia, which was the starting point of the spread of Eurasia by modern humans, and collected stone tool specimens before and after the miniaturization of stone tools. ..Then, as a result of organizing about 1 specimens by era and analyzing changes in stone tool morphology and stone tool manufacturing technology, a new view different from the conventional theory was obtained.

 It is because small stone tools are not new tools invented by modern human beings, but have existed as supporting characters and by-products of stone tool equipment, and modern human beings have a new way of using stone tool forms that have existed for a long time. It is a hypothesis that he found out and expanded its production and use.Specimen analysis showed a clear increase in small stone tools in the early Upper Paleolithic era, when the Neanderthals disappeared and modern humans increased, but even before that, as part of a variety of stone tool morphologies and craftsmanship. It turned out that it existed.

 The background to the increase in the production and use of small stone tools is explained from the perspective of human behavior and ecology.In the early Upper Paleolithic period, when small stone tools played a leading role, the number and distribution of archaeological sites expanded, and it is presumed that the habitat mobility of modern humans increased.Under these conditions, the usefulness of small stone tools, which can save stone consumption and are lightweight and convenient to carry, has been gradually recognized and utilized.

 This research provides findings that can be used as a reference when considering the issues related to modern times, such as what kind of technology is used to effectively utilize limited resources and maintain the population over the long term.

Paper information:[Quaternary International] Frequency and production technology of bladelets in Late Middle Paleolithic, Initial Upper Paleolithic, and Early Upper Paleolithic (Ahmarian) assemblages in Jebel Qalkha, southern Jordan

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