Lithic Technological Systems and Evolutionary Theory

Stone tool analysis relies on a strong background in analytical and methodological techniques. However, lithic technological analysis has not been well integrated with a theoretically-informed approach to understanding how humans procured, made, and used stone tools. Evolutionary theory has great potential to fill this gap. This collection of essays brings together several different evolutionary perspectives to demonstrate how lithic technological systems are a byproduct of human behavior. The essays cover a range of topics, including human behavioral ecology, cultural transmission, phylogenetic analysis, risk management, macroevolution, dual inheritance theory, cladistics, central place foraging, costly signaling, selection, drift, and various applications of evolutionary ecology.

Nathan Goodale is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Hamilton College. He is author of articles and book chapters dealing with lithic technology and evolutionary theory in several journals and edited volumes, including Evolution: Education and Outreach, American Antiquity, the Journal of Archaeological Science, Complex Hunter-Gatherers (2004), and Lithic Technology (Cambridge, 2008).

William Andrefsky, Jr, is Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Dean of the Graduate School at Washington State University. He is author of several books dealing with stone analysis, including Lithics (Cambridge, 1998 and 2004), Lithic Debitage (2001), and Lithic Technology (Cambridge, 2008).