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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Recurso digital |
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Zenodo
2025
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17763006 |
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Table of Contents:
- The evolution of projectile technology represents a pivotal development in human history, fundamentally reshaping hunting strategies, social dynamics, and cognitive capacities. This paper explores the intricate relationship between lithic engineering, the mechanics of the atlatl (spear-thrower), and the establishment of the human ballistic niche. Drawing upon archaeological evidence, biomechanical analyses, and experimental archaeology, we investigate how the deliberate design of stone projectile points optimized for flight and penetration converged with the leverage provided by the atlatl to significantly enhance throwing velocity, accuracy, and impact force. The atlatl, appearing in the Upper Paleolithic, extended the human throwing arm, enabling early hominins to effectively hunt large game from a safer distance. This technological innovation not only expanded dietary breadth and access to energetic resources but also imposed new selective pressures, favoring specific anatomical adaptations for throwing and advanced sensorimotor control. Furthermore, the development of composite tools, including atlatl darts with hafted stone points, signifies a leap in abstract thinking, planning, and craftsmanship, hinting at complex cognitive processes. We argue that the co-evolution of human physiology, lithic technology, and atlatl mechanics established a unique "ballistic niche," profoundly influencing human subsistence, cooperation, and the trajectory of technological innovation. This interdisciplinary approach illuminates a crucial chapter in human evolution, highlighting the synergy between material culture and biological adaptation in shaping human capabilities and ecological success.