Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Organisers:
Marina González-Varas, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France; Institut français d’études andines (IFEA), Lima, Perú, marina.gz.varas@gmail.com
Antonio Pérez-Balarezo, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento de Humanidades, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú, bperezb@pucp.edu.pe
Justin Guibert, Université Toulouse Jean Jaures, UMR 5608 TRACES/SMP3C, Maison de la Recherche, 5 allée Antonio Machado 31058 Toulouse Cedex, France, justin.guibert@yahoo.fr
Yuduan Zhou, Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China, zhouyuduan@yeah.net
Hubert Forestier, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France, hubforestier@gmail.com
Valéry Zeitoun, UMR 7207-CR2P-CNRS-SU, Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie-Paris, Sorbonne Université, France, pythecanthro@gmail.com
Tropical environments have shaped distinctive human technological adaptations across different regions and time periods. This session will bring together research exploring analogies—similarities in material culture developed independently in response to shared tropical challenges—and homologies, where similar technologies reflect a common cultural or historical origin within tropical biomes. By focusing on both analogy and homology, this session aims to foster a nuanced understanding of tropical technologies, emphasising how environmental and climatic conditions in the tropics have influenced resource use, tool design, subsistence strategies, and economic practices. Contributions from diverse temporal and geographical contexts are encouraged, from earliest Indigenous adaptations to colonial interactions and their legacies. The session particularly welcomes interdisciplinary and collaborative research integrating archaeological, ethnographic, ecological, and Indigenous knowledge. Historically, tropical technologies and their trajectories have often been perceived as extensions or reflections of temperate region innovations, shaped by Western academic perspectives. This session aims to challenge such biases by highlighting the unique and independent development of tropical technological traditions. We invite contributions from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, encouraging presenters to investigate both functional analogies and evolutionary homologous traits in tropical material culture. By examining these global patterns, the session seeks to enhance our understanding of human adaptability and the creative diversity of technological solutions within tropical landscapes.
Papers:
A Comparative Approach Based on Cladistics and 3D Lithic Technology to Analyse Unifacially Shaped Tools from South America and Southeast Asia
Valentin Rineau, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
Antonio Pérez-Balarezo, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Peru; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Peru
Marina González-Varas, Département Homme & Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France; Institut français d’études andines (IFEA), Lima, Perú
Hubert Forestier, Département Homme & Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France
Heng Sophady, Royal University of Fines-Arts, Phnom Penh, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Prasit Auetrakulvit, Dept of Archaeology, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Valéry Zeitoun, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
This work uses the three-item analysis cladistic method (3ia) and 3D geometric morphometrics to analyse unifacially shaped tools from tropical regions, including El Inga (Ecuador), GO-NI-01 (Brazil), Laang Spean (Cambodia), and Doi Pha Kan (Thailand), among others. Individual tools are treated as phylogenetic units to identify patterns of technological convergence under shared ecological conditions. Cladograms based on geometric and volumetric features reveal clusters of tools, highlighting similarities in shaping production despite differences in raw material selection and function, and geographical affiliation on a large scale. These findings demonstrate adaptive responses to tropical environments and underscore the role of cladistics in exploring cross-continental technological innovation and ecological influences in prehistory.
Projectile Points and Bladelet Technology in the Peruvian Tropical Andes During the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene
Jalh Dulanto, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú
Antonio Pérez-Balarezo, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú
Enrique Guadalupe, Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas; Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Daniel Vergara, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Dany Tarrilo, Isabel Gonzalez, Renzo Córdoba, Christian Becerra and Aixa Battistini, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
The lithic assemblage from Pampa Lechuza, a Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene site in south-central Peru, reveals the co-occurrence of Fishtail Projectile Points (FPP) and Paiján points. Crafted from local quartz crystal and high-quality materials, these artifacts highlight advanced reduction strategies, including fluting on FPP and systematic bladelet production. These findings expand the geographic range of FPP and bladelet technology while demonstrating technological diversity and adaptability in the region. The co-occurrence of these traditions suggests overlapping cultural spheres, complex mobility networks, and distinct material preferences, emphasising Pampa Lechuza’s role as a hub for innovation and interaction in early Andean prehistory.
Technology, Sourcing, and Human Mobility in the Subtropical Desert of the South-central Coast of Peru: New Data from the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene Pampa Lechuza Site
Jalh Dulanto, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú
Antonio Pérez-Balarezo, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú
Enrique Guadalupe, Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas; Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Daniel Vergara, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Dany Tarrilo, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Isabel Gonzalez, Renzo Córdoba, Christian Becerra and Aixa Battistini, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, Departamento Académico de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú
Pampa Lechuza, a Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene site in south-central Peru, provides key insights into early mobility and resource strategies in the Central Andes. Portable XRF analysis shows that most obsidian artefacts originate from the Quispisisa source, 250 km away in the Ayacucho highlands. Technological analysis indicates advanced reduction stages, suggesting pre-shaped tools were retouched at the site. Pampa Lechuza’s strategic location highlights its role as a logistical hub within mobility and exchange networks, linking highland and coastal resources. These findings enhance our understanding of Paiján lithic technology, regional mobility, and adaptive strategies in previously understudied coastal areas.
Not So Simple: A Preliminary Macroscopic Observation of Hafting Traces on Hoabinhian Lithic Tools from Southern China and Southeast Asia
Yuduan Zhou, School of History, Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, Wuhan University, China
Ruxi Yang, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France
Heng Sophady, Royal University of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Valéry Zeitoun, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
Hubert Forestier, Département Homme & Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France
The Hoabinhian technocomplex is the first and longest-lasting Palaeolithic modern human culture discovered in the tropics of southern China and Southeast Asia. It first appeared around 45,000 BP and disappeared about 4,000 BP. Characterised by large cobble-based assemblages, the toolkit of the Hoabinhian population was totally different from Late Paleolithic hunter-gatherers in Europe, where contrasting temperate and cold environments were found. However, were Hoabinhian tools always simple handheld ones without complexity and evolution over 40,000 years? This work intends to review Hoabinhian lithic tools from southern China and Southeast Asia with special attention to hafting traces on tools. We present the result of a preliminary macroscopic observation of several assemblages and suggest that hafting technology should have existed among the Hoabinhian toolkits, especially during the later Hoabinhian periods, indicating an evolutionary trend towards hafting in the last times of Hoabinhian populations. These hypotheses must be tested by future systematic micro-wear analysis and integrated methods.
From Southeast Asia to South America: Intertropical Comparisons Through 3D Lithic Technology & Anthropological Reflections on a Unifacial Phenomenon
Marina González-Varas, Département Homme & Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France; Institut français d’études andines (IFEA), Lima, Perú
Antonio Pérez-Balarezo, Sección de Arqueología, Departamento Académico de Humanidades; Grupo de Investigación en Poblamiento Inicial de las Américas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (GIPAM-PUCP), Lima, Perú
Hubert Forestier, Département Homme & Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l’Homme, Paris, France
Valéry Zeitoun, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
The Pleistocene-Holocene transition (~14,000-9,000 BP) in tropical South America is marked by a demographic explosion, cultural diversity, and profound environmental changes. It is during this period that unifacial shaping with a flat face developed. This technical phenomenon is particularly studied in Brazil with the Itaparica technocomplex in the northern and central parts of the country. However, this concept extends across the entire South American tropical zone and, through its variability, indicates significant contact between cultural groups. Meanwhile, similar lithic productions emerge in Southeast Asia, notably in Cambodia with the Hoabinhian culture and in Thailand. This presentation offers a comparative analysis of lithic assemblages from different intertropical areas, combining 3D geometric morphometry and lithic technology to understand the structures of unifacial tools. By integrating the study of the chaîne opératoire, preliminary results show technological convergence between South America and Southeast Asia, with these technologies serving different functional purposes depending on local factors such as environmental adaptation, raw material economy, and subsistence strategies.
Stone Tool Making Technology and Lithic Raw Material Sources in Kamasi Sites, West Sulawesi, Indonesia
Yuka Nurtanti Cahyaningtyas, Archaeology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Muhammad Fadlan Syuaib, Research Centre for Archaeometry, Research Organization for Archaeology, Language, and Letters, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Alqiz Lukman, Research Centre for Environmental Archaeology, Maritime Archaeology, and Cultural Sustainability, Research Organization for Archaeology, Language, and Letters, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
This article presents data on the technology of stone tool making and sources of lithic raw materials at Kamasi site, West Sulawesi, using analysis of form, technology, petrology and rock formation. The technology found in the design of stone tools shows the adaptation made by humans to the geographical conditions and environment of the site. The selection of raw materials for stone tools shows their adaptation to the geographical environment which is adjusted to the needs of the subsistence strategy. The available lithic raw materials are closely related to the constituent rock formations at the Kamasi Site. The discussion of the analysis conducted shows human adaptation in the use of resources and tool design in supporting subsistence strategies.
Lithic Traceological Experiments in Tropical Environments of Cambodia: Vegetal Processing of Sandstones and Hornfels
Ruxi Yang, UMR-7194 CNRS, Equipe PRETROP, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l′Homme, Paris 75116, France
Celine Kerfant, Departament d’Humanitats. Història / Culture and Socio-Ecological Dynamics (CaSEs), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08002, Spain
Yuduan Zhou, School of History, Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Ignacio Clemente-Conte, Departamento de Arqueología y Antropología, Institución Milá y Fontanals de Estudios en Humanidades (IMF), del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona 08001, Spain
Heng Sophady, Royal University of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Ngov Kosal, UMR-7194 CNRS, Equipe PRETROP, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l′Homme, Paris 75116, France
Hubert Forestier, UMR-7194 CNRS, Equipe PRETROP, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l′Homme, Paris 75116, France
Inadequate research has been made on lithic functions of Hoabinhian technocomplex, which is the cultural hallmark of late Palaeolithic Southeast Asia and adjacent regions, though hypothesis about wood or bamboo processing of these heavy-duty tools has long been discussed. Here we present a series of experiments on sandstones and hornfels in Cambodia with vegetal materials—wood, bamboo and palm—from tropical forest environments, to align with the tropism of the natural environment of the Hoabinhian technocomplex. We intend to display results and protocols of traceological experiments on unifacial cobble tools like those unearthed at Hoabinhian sites, especially Laang Spean cave site, Cambodia. We conducted experiments from raw material selection to tool utilisation, from which we conclude that the patterns of traces vary according to different types of working objects and gestures. Additionally, microscopic observations have revealed vegetal residues, distinguishable by their types. We hope this helps with expanding the database, and provide crucial reference for subsequent functional analysis of Hoabinhian lithics from Laang Spean.