A NEW APPROACH TO INTERPRETING LATE PLEISTOCENE MICROLITH INDUSTRIES IN SOUTHWEST ASIA

Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in mic roliths primarily reflects cultural differences among the makers. This forms the basis for differentiating major cultural/temporal tradition s in the late Epipalaeolithic of southwest Asia. An alternative explan ation for morphological variability is proposed which emphasizes the d ynamic aspects of lithic technology in hunter-gatherer societies and q uestions current explanations of culture change.