Exploring variability in lithic armature discard in the archaeological record

The invention of projectile technology had important ramifications for hominin evolution. However, the number stone points that could have been used as projectiles fluctuates in archaeological assemblages, making it difficult to define when was first widely adopted and how its usage changed over time. Here we use an agent-based model simulate a hunter-gatherer foraging system where armatures are dropped according their usage. We explore impact interactions between human behaviors environmental constraints data-informed landscape on distribution lithic found assemblages. ran 2400 simulations modeling different population sizes, rates hunting with projectiles, tool curation levels. For each simulation, recorded location calculated percentage were discarded at habitation camps vs. lost during hunting. linear regression identify demographic, behavioral, factor(s) best explained changes these numbers percentages. results show well-controlled environment, most weapons or sites; only ∼4.5% (or ∼2 per year simulation) they would likely be excavated. These findings suggest even rare hafted Early Middle Stone Age indicate well-established such tools. Our shows reoccupation sites, size, rate weapons, levels strongly influence count Therefore, argue fluctuations counts documented sites should evaluated within demographic contexts better understand if reflect spatiotemporal behavior.