TAG2024

The evolution of cognitive and behavioural complexity is a major focus of Palaeolithic research. Experimental archaeology – a hypothesis-driven, practical approach for testing theories about past production processes – has contributed to this field as a provider of a “maker’s knowledge” (Currie, 2022, 337). Interpretation of this knowledge can involve assessment of the relative behavioural complexity of a process. For lithic studies this can be the number of discrete production steps (Perreault et al., 2013, S398) or degree of “indirect thinking” (Köhler, 1925; Muller et al., 2017, 166).

To what degree do the results of experimental archaeology confirm or contradict prior assumptions about the evolutionary trajectory of behavioural complexity? How should we interpret expedient or ad hoc behaviour?

Experimental archaeology can also be used to test hypotheses about alternative methods of production. Should we expect different human populations or species to display the same evolutionary pathways for tool production?

This session invites contributions from authors who have used experimental archaeology to investigate cognitive or behavioural complexity, or to test new hypotheses about stone tools or other materials – whether for the Palaeolithic or more recent prehistory.

9:10am | A “leap” too far? Experimental archaeology and the nature of the Oldowan-Acheulean transition | James Clarke

9:30am | Cognitive extensions: Hand-tool interaction and visuospatial integration in human evolution | Annapaola Fedato

9:50am | Re-thinking about bipolar technique: New Approaches to the Bipolar Flaking Technique: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Kinematic Perspectives | Görkem Cenk Yeşilova, Adrián Arroyo, Andreu Ollé & Josep Maria Vergès

10:10am | Cognition and the origins of aceramic cooking: An experimental study of wet-cooking in organic vessels | Andy Needham

10:30am | Walking a mile in their shoes: An experimental approach to the question of Neanderthal footwear. | Phoebe Baker

11:10am | Bringing Neanderthals in from the cold: introducing an experimental methodology to test the hide cutting and piercing capacities of Mode 3 technology  | Helen Hampton & Andy Needham

11:30am | Many ways to get to the point: Experimental insights into the behavioural complexity involved in Middle Stone Age point-making | Antoine Muller

11:50am | The replication and hafting experiments of Balde and Flake Technology in Late Palaeolithic Settlement of Laranga, North Karanpura Valley, Jharkhand. | Pronil Das & Shubham Rajak

12:10pm | Different bronze alloying techniques, different possibilities: how experimentation shapes existent histories of technology | Julia Montes-Landa

12:30pm | Discussion |

12:30pm | Discussion |

Full paper abstracts available here:
https://tag2024.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tag-2024-session-abstracts-1.pdf