ABSTRACT

We present the first techno-functional examination of backed knives from the southern African Acheulean. Our results suggest that they were opportunistically produced, although they demonstrate a unique ergonomic design that may have increased their efficiency in subsistence activities. Moreover, the frequency of backed knives at Wonderboom may be associated with possible meat harvesting at a nearby gap (Wonderboompoort) in the Magaliesberg range, which formed a bottleneck for animal herds migrating across major biome boundaries in the deep past. The Wonderboom knives might have been made on an ad hoc basis to augment butchery practices.

摘要

我们首次对来自南部非洲 Acheulean 的背刀进行了技术功能检查。我们的结果表明，它们是随机生产的，尽管它们展示了独特的人体工程学设计，可能提高了它们在维持生计活动中的效率。此外，Wonderboom 背刀的频率可能与 Magaliesberg 山脉附近缺口 (Wonderboompoort) 可能的肉类收获有关，这在过去形成了动物群跨越主要生物群落边界迁徙的瓶颈。Wonderboom 刀具可能是专门为加强屠宰实践而制作的。