Prehistoric Archaeology Unit, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Geo-Institute, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
J Hum Evol. 2011 May;60(5):637-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.01.001.
A detailed microwear study was performed on several assemblages from Northeast Africa to provide an anthropological scenario of late middle and upper Pleistocene populations in the Nile Valley and adjacent zones. Results are presented from the wear analysis of five sites, and an interpretation is provided of the keystones of MSA behaviour and its evolution throughout about 150,000 years. Locally available raw materials were predominantly used. Different tool uses were identified based on wear evidence, and it was demonstrated that stone tools were hafted from at least the early MSA onwards. In particular stone tools for which hafting was a necessity for their use, such as percussion implements and projectiles, were hafted. Both tool functions remain important throughout the Middle Stone Age. For tools with other uses, such as knives, hafting was demonstrated in certain cases. Hafting proved to be integrated into the stone tool production process, indicating a certain degree of anticipation and planning. Ochre was present at most of the sites in different forms, and mainly seems to have served a utilitarian function, and a possible symbolic use. The included sites could be interpreted as specialised sites, and in all but one case were situated in a production context. The evidence indicates the existence of a regional settlement system with different logistic nodes.
对来自非洲东北部的几个组合进行了详细的微观磨损研究，以提供尼罗河流域和邻近地区中更新世晚期和上新世人口的人类学情景。从五个地点的磨损分析中呈现了结果，并对 MSA 行为的关键特征及其在大约 15 万年中的演变提供了解释。当地可用的原材料主要被使用。根据磨损证据确定了不同的工具用途，并证明石器至少从早期 MSA 开始就被安装在柄上。特别是对于那些使用时需要安装柄的工具，如打击工具和投射物，都被安装了柄。在整个中石器时代，这些工具的功能都很重要。对于其他用途的工具，如刀，在某些情况下也展示了安装柄的情况。安装证明已被纳入石器生产过程中，表明了一定程度的预期和规划。赭石在大多数地点都以不同的形式存在，主要似乎具有实用功能和可能的象征用途。所包含的地点可以被解释为专门的地点，而且除了一个地点外，它们都位于生产环境中。这些证据表明存在具有不同物流节点的区域定居系统。
