Convergence in the Design of Final Palaeolitihc, Mesolithic and Ethnographic Projectile Points.

Abstract

AbstractIn traditional hunting and gathering societies it is a common practice to fashion projectiles for different purposes. The spectrum of the available morphologies for projectiles and their tips is dictated by several kinds of constraints such as aerodynamic and mechanical properties, different hunting strategies, the available game or range of the shot. This article focuses on particular aspect of duality in primitive projectile technology interpreted with a fitness lanscape model. Using geometric morphometric analysis, the author argues that the duality in projectile morphology and performance characteristics observed in the studied projectile weapon systems is the result of technological and physical constraints placed upon primitive projectile technology. For a more comprehensive explanation of this phenomenon an optimality model explaining the devolopment of flexible projectile weapon systems is proposed.