The role of vision during Lower Palaeolithic tool‑making

Silva Gago, Maria, Terradillos-Bernal, Marcos, Hodgson, Timothy and Bruner, Emiliano (2023) The role of vision during Lower Palaeolithic tool‑making. Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 5 (1). p. 19. ISSN 2520-8217

Full content URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41982-022-00129-5

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The role of vision during Lower Palaeolithic tool‑making
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Abstract

Stone tools are the result of goal-oriented actions involving cognitive processes. Because visual attention is a requirement in accurate tool-making, visual exploration can provide information about the relationship between perception and technological evolution. The purpose of this study is to analyse visual behaviour while an expert knapper produces different stone tools, using a portable eye tracking device.
To understand where gaze was directed moment by moment, different areas of interest were defined. The preliminary results show that the most observed areas were the middle region, the knapped surface, the first face of the tool being struck and the next point of percussion. There were differences in visual exploration between choppers and hand axes during knapping. The distal position, upper region, cortex and the first face of the tool being struck were more explored in choppers, while the base, knapped surface and first tool’s face knapped were more viewed for hand axes. These areas can be considered to be the most salient features needed to control knapping, hence constituting action affordances for the successful production of stone tools.

Keywords:Eye-tracking, Knapping, Visual attention, affordance, Cognitive, Archaeology, Chopper, Handaxe
Subjects:C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology
C Biological Sciences > C850 Cognitive Psychology
V Historical and Philosophical studies > V400 Archaeology
Divisions:College of Social Science > School of Psychology
ID Code:52548
Deposited On:14 Dec 2022 16:36

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