Instruction, Digital Pressure and Bimanual Control in Stone-Tool Skill

Abstract

To examine the relationship between stone-tool instruction, practical competence and pressure distribution across the hammer and core hands. A six-maker investigation of Oldowan chopper production measured force and pressure at 200~Hz and found lower thumb loading than digit II and/or III. A comparison of 23 novices and nine experts associated expertise with lower hammer-hand pressure-time integrals. Core-hand investigations identified greater pressure during platform preparation than detachment and substantial fifth-digit participation. Teaching experiments involved 184, 30 and 71 participants and differed in instructional content and production outcomes. None of the investigations examined here establishes a teaching effect on pressure recorded simultaneously from both hands. Technical competence and manual exposure are distinct outcomes of stone-tool learning. Demonstrating an acquired pressure change requires an instructional comparison, synchronized hand recordings and an assessment without immediate guidance. An ergonomic benefit additionally requires an explicit favourable exposure outcome and adequate flake-production performance. Archaeological flake dimensions alone cannot identify the learner's bilateral pressure history.