mousterian - tool culture

Question 1

who used Mousterian tools and when?

Answer 1

homo neanderthalensis
- early homo sapiens
30 000 - 200 000 years ago

Question 2

what materials are used?

Answer 2

stone, slint

Question 3

what are the manufacturing techniques?

Answer 3

Levallois method
- flintstone flaked and then struck to chip ‘core’ from a larger stone

soft hammer percussions
- fine chipping using materials that are softer than stone wood and bone

hafting
- attaching a handle to create spears

Question 4

what are the tools used for?

Answer 4

spear throwing and hunting
preparing animal hides
making jewellery, necklaces

Question 5

how has the tool changed their lifestyle?

Answer 5

adornment of body
burials and rituals
making hides for clothing (colder climates)
larger animals means butchery

Question 6

how has the tool changed their cognitive abilities?

Answer 6

complex cooperation and planning
complex tool construction= reasoning, learning, motor skills (frontal lobe)
large meat diet = large brain capacity
language is likely
understanding of disease = prevention of the spread