Part of
Homo Symbolicus: The dawn of language, imagination and spiritualityEdited by Christopher S. Henshilwood and Francesco d'Errico
[Not in series 168] 2011
► pp. 97–110
Edited by Christopher S. Henshilwood and Francesco d'Errico
[Not in series 168] 2011
► pp. 97–110
Chapter 5. Complex cognition required for compound adhesive manufacture in the Middle Stone Age implies symbolic capacity
Lyn Wadley | Institute for Human Evolution and School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand
Compound adhesives were made in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa using a complex process in order to attach stone tools to shafts. Glue-makers must switch attention between fire control, measuring ingredients, and assembling compound tools. No rehearsals or recipes guarantee success; artisans must multi-task (a characteristic of modern human minds involving cognitive fluidity) and think abstractly about properties of glue ingredients. Mental rotation, an ability implying advanced working memory capacity, is needed to place stone inserts in various positions to create novel weapons and tools. The manufacturing process is sufficiently intricate that the early artisans must have had minds with abilities that overlapped those of people living today; such minds are capable of symbolic thought and action.
Cited by
Cited by 4 other publications
Sterelny, Kim
2014. A Paleolithic Reciprocation Crisis: Symbols, Signals, and Norms. Biological Theory 9:1 ► pp. 65 ff. 
Tilley, Lorna
2015. Care Among the Neandertals: La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 and La Ferrassie 1 (Case Study 2). In Theory and Practice in the Bioarchaeology of Care [Bioarchaeology and Social Theory, ], ► pp. 219 ff.
Tilley, Lorna
2015. Setting the Scene for a Bioarchaeology of Care. In Theory and Practice in the Bioarchaeology of Care [Bioarchaeology and Social Theory, ], ► pp. 13 ff.
Wagner, Roger & Andrew Briggs
2016. The Penultimate Curiosity,
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 19 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.