We are going to have you look at some stone tools found in association with some of the early humans we have been examining to try to understand the Out of Africa vs. Multiregional Evolution controversy. We don't have all the tools you need to understand this side of the controversy, so we are also showing you some drawings of tools. The questions you are to answer are below:

1. Look at the sequence:
        Acheulian hand axes
                associated with Homo erectus of the Lower Paleolithic

        Levallois core
        Mousterian point
        Scrapers
        and other tools
                all associated with Neanderthals of the Middle Paleolithic

        Blade core
        Finely finished point
                all associated with modern humans of the Upper Paleolithic
 

What kinds of differences do you see between the tools of the three periods?
 
 
 

Do you see greater specialization as time goes on? More diverse tools?  Finer work?
 
 

If Out of Africa is true, you might expect something of a break between the technologies of the Middle Paleolithic and those of the Upper Paleolithic. Do you see such a break?  Does the absence of such a break rule out Out of Africa?
 
 

2.  Look at the pictures of the Chatelperronian tools from Europe.  These are thought to come from a time when both Neanderthals and modern Humans were active. They are generally thought to be associated with Neanderthals. The archaeological context in which they were found is illustrated in the diagram. Compare these tools with the Middle Paleolithic tools associated with Neanderthals, and then compare them with the Upper Paleolithic tools associated with modern humans.  How do they compare in specialization and in skill of work?
 
 
 

Is it possible, then, from tools alone, to determine that modern humans out competed Neanderthals by their superior technological or mental powers?  How can we tell, or why is it impossible to tell?
 
 
 
 
 

3. In sum, what can you tell about Out of Africa vs. Multiregional Evolution from looking at the tools found associated with, and thus presumably used by, Neanderthals and modern humans in Europe and the Middle East?