Humans have evolved a unique ‘technological niche’ comprising the ability for sophisticated object manipulation, modification, and the social reproduction of technological information. A growing body of work reveals complex coevolutionary relationships between social, psychological, and environmental conditions that encouraged such prolonged technological skill learning. Such processes would have cascading effects on hominin social tolerance, social/psychological support for practice, and language abilities, all of which may have in some way arisen in concert with hominin tool-making abilities. My work uses experimental archaeology to test hypotheses about stone tool-making skill acquisition and the bio-cultural context for the evolution of the human technological niche. Results identify cognitive targets of selection on the efficiency or reliability of tool-making skill acquisition (Pargeter et al., 2022; Kristel et al., 2021), quantify learning costs (Pargeter et al., 2020; Wilson et al., 2023), highlight the likely importance of social support, motivation, persistence, and self-control in knapping skill acquisition (Pargeter et al., 2019), and illustrate methods for reliably reconstructing ancient learning processes from archaeological evidence (Cheng et al., 2023).
My experimental research derives observations from replication studies to better understand lithic production strategies (e.g., Duke & Pargeter, 2015; Pargeter et al., 2017), the taphonomic processes that affect lithics, the social reproduction of lithic technologies (e.g., Pargeter & Bradfield, 2012; Pargeter, 2013; Forssman & Pargeter, 2014); and method and theory building (Eren et al., 2016; Pargeter et al., 2023). Several ongoing experimental collaborations generate data on the costs and benefits of different lithic technologies (e.g., Pargeter & Eren, 2017). My ongoing work on ancient projectile weaponry involves collecting primary data from archaeological assemblages, generating observations to interpret patterns of damage on these tools, and documenting changes in patterns of weapon use through time and space in the archaeological record (Lombard & Pargeter, 2008; Pargeter, 2011; Pargeter et al., 2016, 2017). Because the experimental and quantitative methods I employ are widely applicable, I have also used them to address questions about lithic assemblages in varying times and places, including in North America (Pargeter & Tweedie, 2019; Werner et al., 2019; Mika et al., 2020).
Technical skills utilized: Lithic technology; 3D scanning; photogrammetry; neuroscience; cognitive theory; experimental archaeology
Contact: Justin Pargeter, Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator (justin.pargeter@nyu.edu)
Interested students should reach out to Justin Pargeter via email to learn more about the possibility of participating in this research.