Bushra Bibi
Research title: The Origins of String: Fibre Technologies in the Palaeolithic.
Research Summary
Bushra's thesis is concerned with exploring the origin and development of cordage in the Palaeolithic. She uses various methods are used in order to investigate the presence and use of fibres across the Africa, Eurasian, and Australian continents resulting in a three-part thesis. Part 1 is concerned with the string and body. In this chapter, various methods of twisting string are collated from ethnographic sources and the embodiment of string production is explored. This is compared to ape and early hominin hand fossils and other investigations into tool use to suppose when string production may have become physically feasible.
In part 2 secondary sources are used to review proxy materials of the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic to demonstrate the use and development of fibre technologies up until 50kya (the earliest date for twisted fibres). Neurological developments necessary for the production of twisted fibres are reviewed with the materials presented, suggesting humans were reliably producing fibre artefacts as early as 700,000 years ago as part of composite technologies.
In Part 3, wear analysis of Upper Palaeolithic Moravian needles (~12.5kya) associated with string use is analysed using micro-CT scanning and compared against a modern reference collection of experimentally produced needles with use wear from various string materials. This will also provide a practical perspective in exploring the benefits and challenges of sewing with bone needles and how different plant and animal materials behave in the production and use of cordage. The results of the analysis are placed within the context of cordage development technologies in the Upper Palaeolithic; suggesting fibre specific technologies were created in order to further develop string technologies.
This integrated approach of analytical and experimental methods uncovers the various aspects of string production and use in the Palaeolithic which contributes to a greater understanding of human lives in the Palaeolithic.