Date of Award
Master of Arts
Dr. Tal Simmons
Dr. Erika Loeffler
Dr. Robert Sundick
Masters Thesis-Open Access
The focus of this study was on morphological differences in stone tools that could be attributed to varied instruction and cognition levels.
In this study two groups of children, one second grade class and one fourth grade class, were selected to make stone tools. The tools that they made included both Oldowan-type flake tools and Acheulean-type handaxes. The primary variables considered in this study were the subjects' level of cognitive development (pre-operational versus concrete operational) as determined by a series of Piagetian tests, and the effects of varied instructional techniques.
Results suggest that Oldowan flake tools can be produced, at a rudimentary level, by individuals of both pre-operational and concrete operational levels of cognitive development, regardless of the instruction. In contrast, in order to produce the more advanced Acheulean tools, either concrete operations or demonstrative instruction is required. The findings also suggest that the hominids that produced quality axes were more likely to be true quality flake producers. .
McCleary, Jill S., "Children's Tool Making Capabilities: Implications for Hominid Intelligence Models and Skill Acquisition Theory" (1994). Masters Theses. 3961.