Miniaturization and Abstraction in the Later Stone Age

Abstract This article offers some hypotheses to explain Later Stone Age lithic miniaturization: the systematic creation of small stone flakes on finest-grained materials. Fundamentally, this phenomenon appears represent prioritization tool sharpness over longevity, and a disposable mode using tools. Ethnographic evidence from Australasia, Andaman Islands, Africa is used suggest specific functions for miniaturized lithics, as well their relationship other aspects material culture, including ochre crayons, shell beads, notched bones. Miniaturized are hypothesized have common basis in cognitive capacity abstraction: having ideas about ideas. The technological social affordances abstraction may given later Homo sapiens significant adaptive advantages members our genus.