Title: Archaeological evidence for preferential right-handedness in the lower and middle pleistocene, and its possible implications
Abstract: Analysis of prehistoric stone artifacts from Lower Pleistocene sites at Koobi Fora, Kenya, and Middle Pleistocene horizons at Ambrona, Spain reveals a preferential, clockwise rotation of stone cores during flaking. Experimental studies of early stone artifact manufacture show that this non-random pattern is consistent with that produced by right-handed toolmakers. This suggests that there was a genetic basis for right-handedness by 1·4 to 1·9 million years ago, and that there may have already been a profound lateralization in the hominid brain with the two hemispheres becoming more specialized for different functions.
Publication Year: 1985
Publication Date: 1985-09-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 377
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