THE LANGUAGE HYPOTHESIS FOR THE MIDDLE-TO-UPPER PALEOLITHIC TRANSITION - AN EXAMINATION BASED ON A MULTIREGIONAL LITHIC ANALYSIS

This paper presents the results of a multiregional study of changes in the efficiency and standardization of lithic industries across the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition as a test of the hypothesis that the transition was a result of the development of language. The sites included in the study are Haua Fteah, Libya (Middle and Upper Paleolithic), Grosse Grotte (Middle Paleolithic) and Geissenklosterle (Upper Paleolithic), Germany, and Pech de l'Aze (Middle Paleolithic) and Caminade (Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic), France. In addition to the comparison of the efficiency and standardization of lithic industries, a comparison of Middle and Upper Paleolithic lithic technology is presented. No empirical evidence is found to support the hypothesis that this transition is related to the development of language.