Lithic technological responses to Late Pleistocene glacial cycling at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, South Africa

A groundbreaking analysis of lithic technology at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, South Africa, reveals that early modern humans adapted their tool-making behaviors during the Late Pleistocene glacial cycle. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, this study identifies significant associations between technological traits and Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 3, including increased use of quartz, shifts in raw material sourcing, and changes in flaking efficiency and tool functionality. These findings suggest that foragers responded to MIS 4 glacial conditions with larger population or group sizes, longer site occupations, and reduced residential mobility—implying a strategic adaptation to environmental pressures. The study's rigorous statistical evaluation of 93 lithic traits without preconceived assumptions provides compelling evidence linking climate change to human behavioral shifts, challenging earlier claims of minimal technological response.

Wilkins, J., Brown, K. S., Oestmo, S., Pereira, T., Ranhorn, K. L., Schoville, B. J., & Marean, C. W. (2017). Lithic technological responses to Late Pleistocene glacial cycling at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, South Africa. Plos One, 12(3), e0174051. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174051