Delayed increase in stone tool cutting-edge productivity at the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition in southern Jordan

Seiji Kadowaki (), Joe Yuichiro Wakano, Toru Tamura, Ayami Watanabe, Masato Hirose, Eiki Suga, Kazuhiro Tsukada, Oday Tarawneh and Sate Massadeh
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Seiji Kadowaki: Nagoya University Museum, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku
Joe Yuichiro Wakano: Meiji University
Toru Tamura: Geological Survey of Japan, AIST
Ayami Watanabe: Nagoya University Museum, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku
Masato Hirose: Kiso Regional Union
Eiki Suga: Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku
Kazuhiro Tsukada: Nagoya University Museum, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku
Oday Tarawneh: Third Circle, Jabal Amman
Sate Massadeh: Third Circle, Jabal Amman

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Although the lithic cutting-edge productivity has long been recognized as a quantifiable aspect of prehistoric human technological evolution, there remains uncertainty how the productivity changed during the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition. Here we present the cutting-edge productivity of eight lithic assemblages in the eastern Mediterranean region that represent a chrono-cultural sequence including the Late Middle Paleolithic, Initial Upper Paleolithic, the Early Upper Paleolithic, and the Epipaleolithic. The results show that a major increase in the cutting-edge productivity does not coincide with the conventional Middle-Upper Paleolithic boundary characterized by the increase in blades in the Initial Upper Paleolithic, but it occurs later in association with the development of bladelet technology in the Early Upper Paleolithic. Given increasing discussions on the complexity of Middle-Upper Paleolithic cultural changes, it may be fruitful to have a long-term perspective and employ consistent criteria for diachronic comparisons to make objective assessment of how cultural changes proceeded across conventional chrono-cultural boundaries.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44798-y

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