Stone Bladelets

At https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mass-production-stone-bladelets-cultural.html … this is an intriguing one. Analysis fo stone tools attributed to the Ahmarian, the first Upper Palaeolithic culture of the Levant [dated around 45,000 years ago] shows that small elongated, symmetrical bladelets were mass produced on site. They are thought to have been used as spear tips, or arrow points. The intriguing bit here is that do the bladelets represent the first use of arrows in the Levant, and therefore, beyond [western Asia in general]. The findings are in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology and we may note here how close the date is to the Laschamp Event [bearing in mind the huge influx of C14 into the atmosphere at the time]. Is this evidence of a major migration into the region – from wherever.  The Upper Palaeolithic is the cultural marker of the appearance of modern humans in Eurasia. Small, double edged, and standardised bladelets are thought to be what is left of arrows and throwing spears, the wooden hafts having rotten away long ago. This suggests, further, the technology facilitated the spread of modern humans during the Upper Palaeolithic – which might be an assumption too far. The spread of modern technology, from mobile phones to drones, does not facilitate a massive migration of people as the new technology is adopted by existing human groups. See also https://doi.org/10.1007/s41982-022-00131-x …