Stones & Bones Quiz #5

Complete Replacement Model

Homo sapiens moved from Africa to Europe and did NOT breed with existing hominids

- Homo sapiens sapiens migrated out of Africa, encountered local Neandertal populations that were already situated

Partial Replacement Model

Proposes that modern humans expanded out of Africa, but there was interbreeding among the modern humans and region premodern populations. There is DNA evidence to support this.

- assumes interbreeding occurred between Hss and Neandertals

- interbreeding led to eventual replacement of archaic forms

- supportive evidence: some Hss remains exhibit apparent hybrid features; Neandertal genes (1-4%) found in non-African Hss genome (indicates some interbreeding); temporal and spatial overlap between Hsn + Hss (together at same place/time)

Shanidar (Iraq) - cut on rib

- Shanidar III with wound on left R9 (false rib) from a weapon; sufficient to puncture a lung

- experimental archaeology: created modern replicas of stone weapons, tested against pig carcasses

- thrusting spears: inflicted damage, multiple rib breakages

- projectile points: left distinct cuts to ribs without injuring surrounding bones (more closely resembled Shanidar III)

- Neandertals did not develop projectile weaponry (modern humans did ---> atlatls)

- suggests Shanidar III was killed by projectile fired by Hss (partial support for complete replacement model)

Early Data

Morocco (300K); Omo I, Ethiopia (195K); Cro-Magnon, France

- possible burials: bodies found with artifacts, ecofacts, and red ochre

Skhul Cave, Israel

- dates to 130-100K

- cranial and dental characteristics:

-reduced prognathism

- parabolic dental arcade

- no diastema

- centered foramen magnum

- minor post-orbital constriction

Technology: Blade-Based Tools

modified flake at least 2x as long as wide; bifacially modified flakes

Technology: Burin-Engravers

useful for making needles/awls for working on leather and textiles (clothing)

- burin: bladed tool that cuts narrow grooves into bone/wood/antler

- parallel engravings allow for detachment of slivers

Technology: Microblades

thin blades reduced into smaller pieces; cemented (resin) into a grooved section of wood, bone, or antler

- creates a tool with replaceable cutting edges

- composite tool: artifact made of different materials

Technology: Hafting

fitting a handle/shaft onto a stone tool

- composite tool: spears, atlatls, arrows

- used by AM sapiens + Neandertals (possibly Homo heidelbergensis)

- handle/shaft = an extension of the arms

- stone is harder than wood, maximize damage to target

- Schoningen wooden spear tips were fire-hardened

Technology: Atlatl

spear/dart-thrower: a projectile delivery system

- functioned as an extension of one's arm

- added more thrust/range to a spear/dart tipped with a stone or bone point

- modern atlatl: over 800ft

- caused occupational stress in shoulder joint (glenoid fossa of scapula)

Technology: Archery

Fa-Hein Lena Cave, Sri Lanka:

- 48K bone arrow points

- breakage consistent with high velocity impacts

Sibudu Cave, South Africa:

- 64K; stone (quartz) arrowheads

- breakage locations on points: hafted

- trace elements of: blood and bone (prey), resin, plant-based glue for hafting

Portable Art

engraved/carved/drilled animal remains (ex. bone, teeth, antler)

- engraved limestone slabs

- female "Venus" figurines (carved stone)

Non-Portable Art

paintings/etchings inside caves; clay sculpture

Cave Art: Technique, Subject, Placement

- etched, painted, or rubbed with charcoal

- located in areas difficult to access (cave ceilings, confined spaces)

- most subjects are animals: carnivores, herbivores, birds, some humans (bodies, hands, faces)

Cave Art: Stone Lamps

- some images occur in dark inaccessible places; far from cave entrance

- stone objects with circular depressions in cave sites

- residue analysis; animal fat

- experimental archaeology: stone lamps produce 1/6th candlelight

- emitted enough light to paint/engrave

- why not use torches? do not last as long + produces smoke (confined areas are poorly ventilated)

Le Trois Freres Cave, France: The Sorcerer

- location difficult to access: 4m above cave floor

- Anthropomorphic figure with zoomorphic traits (human with animal-like traits); the only figure etched and outlined in black charcoal in the sanctuary of the cave (sanctuary consists of 280 additional images of animals)

- the only sanctuary image with face towards the viewer

- possible shaman wearing a mask and costume while performing a dance or ritual (ethnography: religious leaders/shaman often wear elaborate costumes for rituals)

Le Marche, France: Engraved Limestone Slabs

- undecorated cave walls (>3000 engraves limestone slabs)

- images of animals (multiple animals could indicate movement) + images of humans

- multiple artists of varying skills (art workshop?)

- 155 human figures (isolated heads, others with entire bodies)

- 4x as many females as males; different age classes; articles of clothing (hats, robes, belts, boots)

Possible Reasons for Art

expression, religion, sympathetic hunting magic, group identity/boundary maintenance

- images assumed to be magical rites to promote hunting success (sympathetic magic: like produces/affects like)

Paleolithic Textiles

bone and ivory needles and awls made with bruins

- cold, harsh climates require warm clothing

Sunghir, Russia (24K):

- preserved impressions/imprints of clothing

- decorated with ivory beads woven into fabric

Graves in Sunghir, Russia (24K)

- one of the earliest elaborate AM sapiens graves in Europe

- double child burial: boy (aged 12-13 at death) + girl (aged 9-10 at death)

- covered in red ochre, mammoth ivory beads/spears

- young girl: pathological condition since birth (shortened and bowed femurs)

Achieved Social Status

a social status a person gains through their own efforts; something done during one's life recognized by others

Ascribed Social Status

a social status a person is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily in life; relates to birth-right rather than accomplished deeds: Sunghir children