Blombos Cave shells. Image: via Wikimedia
Posted on 06/23/2013 4:42:34 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Researchers had previously theorised that it was an increase in population that drove behavioural innovations which in turn led to the creation of these artefacts and eventually, the expansion out of Africa. However, by examining mollusc shells from Stone Age sites, Richard Klein of Stanford University and Teresa Steele of University of California, Davis, have determined that a significant population increase did not occur until the Later Stone Age (LSA), after the out of Africa migration had already begun...
The researchers found that the median size of MSA shells was larger than that of LSA shells. This showed that selection pressure, and therefore human population, was greater in the LSA rather than the MSA. In addition, shellfish from smaller species were more common in LSA than in newer Stone Age sites. As selection pressure increased with population size, humans would be less likely to overlook smaller shellfish as a source of food.
Klein and Steele claim that because the population increase did not occur until after the migration out of Africa had already begun, there must be another explanation for the cultural advancements of the MSA. They hope that other sites around the African coasts, especially northwest Africa, can be used to investigate the possibility that MSA molluscs that were collected as a foodsource were generally larger than those in later sites and thus add weight to the evidence that MSA population growth did not underlie innovation.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...
Blombos Cave shells. Image: via Wikimedia
|
|
|
| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
|
|
To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
|
|
|
|
How do I get one of these jobs researching this stuff?
Loose your job, apply for benefits, go to college on our dime, propose a theory, request government research money, receive money, publish work, make millions and earn fame.....or....pay for it ALL yourself. :)
Theory was sealed by discovery of bottles of cocktail sauce
with the shellfish remenants.......
Your theory sounds stronger
Tabasco and saltines!
What do you think AMPHORA hold?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
