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Knowledge and know-how in the Oldowan: an experimental approach
weight, although they are close to the intermediates; advanced knappers are
more separated from the rest in this regard. Advanced knappers also pro
tion from the core analysis that advanced knappers reduced their cores more
intensively.
Fig. 6 also reveals some surprising results. Flakes produced by novice
knappers have the highest number of dorsal scars, followed by advanced and
more acute bulb angles. In contrast to all the other results presented thus
far, these variables place novices closer to advanced knappers than to in
termediates. The results regarding platform angles may be explained as due
to reduction intensity differences: although all subjects had the same (very
brief) amount of time to reduce their cores, advanced knappers produced
substantially more debitage than did other knappers. Their average core and
bulb angles may approach novice values because the highly constrained cir
cumstances of the experiment did not allow them to manipulate their cores
and choose platforms as carefully as they would normally, forcing them to
utilize less favorable platform angles as the trials progressed. Contrary to
edly struck their cores in approximately the same place, thus guaranteeing
to be at work.
point toward differential reduction intensity as strongly as do the core re
a higher, more consistent level of skilled performance among advanced knap
pers (termination type, platform scars, core and bulb angles, dorsal scars).
Variables that would indicate reduction intensity, such as the dorsal surface
cortex percentage and Toth type pattern, are similar among the groups. For
the present study, the analysis of the cores provided the best evidence of
differential reduction intensity, while the debitage analysis provided other
information.
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