Can hand laterality be identified through lithic technology?

Area of Science:

• Archaeological science
• Experimental archaeology
• Human evolution

Background:

• Inferring prehistoric human behavior, such as handedness, from material culture is crucial for understanding cognitive and social development.
• Lithic analysis offers potential insights into hominin laterality, but reliable methods for determining knapper handedness are needed.

Observation:

• An experimental stone-knapping program involved 15 inexpert knappers (8 right-handed, 7 left-handed) to analyze flake production.
• Statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) confirmed that expertise level did not significantly alter the technical features of the produced flakes within this sample.
• Flakes exhibited a range of technical features, with no single variable consistently indicating the knapper's handedness.

Findings:

• Handedness cannot be reliably determined from a single variable on a lithic flake.
• The combination of multiple technical variables across several flakes is necessary to infer knapper laterality.
• Not all analyzed flakes displayed the full set of significant technical features.

Implications:

• This research refines methodologies for inferring prehistoric handedness from stone tool assemblages.
• Archaeological interpretation requires examining multiple lithic artifacts and their combined technical attributes for accurate laterality assessment.
• Well-preserved knapping sites with numerous refitted lithic products offer the best potential for assigning handedness to ancient knappers.