Regional diversity within the core technology of the howiesons poort techno-complex

Abstract

This chapter works from the assumption that core technology is a culturally transmitted practice that is more conducive to tracking cultural phylogenies than retouched implements that have undergone strong selection and convergence for functional properties. This chapter presents an analysis of core traditions within the MSA of southern Africa using multivariate morphometric analysis of cores from five Howiesons Poort sites. Results suggest that regional traditions of core reduction existed within this widespread techno-complex despite strong similarities in backed artefact technologies. This raises the possibility that backed artefact manufacturing technology spread between local populations that had inherited quite different approaches to core reduction. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.