Reply to Barkai: Implications of the Konso bone handaxe

We welcome Ran Barkai’s thoughts (1) on the symbolic significance of the Konso bone handaxe that we recently reported (2). First, we agree that African Homo erectus at 1.4 Mya may have been considerably sophisticated in their cognitive capacities, including potential symbolic perception and behavior. Indeed, the technological context of the find suggests a higher level of cognition than previously thought, a point we further discuss below. Next, we note that, although bone marrow was exploited, fragmented fresh bones at processing sites are covered with soft tissue. One experimental work (3) reports that presence of periosteum precludes efficient controlled percussion, and another reports that weathered bone …

↵¹To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: gsuwa{at}um.u-tokyo.ac.jp.