Stone Tools in Human Evolution: Behavioral Differences among Technological Primates

by John J. Shea

In Stone Tools in Human Evolution, John J. Shea argues that over the last three million years hominins' technological strategies shifted from occasional tool use, much like that seen among living non-human primates, to a uniquely human pattern of obligatory tool use. Examining how the lithic archaeological record changed over the course of human evolution, he compares tool use by living humans and non-human primates and predicts how the archaeological stone tool evidence should have changed as distinctively human behaviors evolved. Those behaviors include using cutting tools, logistical mobility (carrying things), language and symbolic artifacts, geographic dispersal and diaspora, and residential sedentism (living in the same place for prolonged periods). Shea then tests those predictions by analyzing the archaeological lithic record from 6,500 years ago to 3.5 million years ago.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2016

Reviews

[Jayesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating information about how study of stone tools can shed some light on hominid evolution. When and how did humans become habitual tool users. It's a textbook, so even though I don't think it's dry, it does have a bit of jargon that not everyone would care about.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like a good overview of stone tools across pre-history. I like how the author also touches upon the idea of describing tool use by "ages" brought upon by "revolutions" in technology. Keep in mind though that the book can be quite dry and can have more details than one might need. ;)