Rethinking Levallois: A 3D Look at the Precision of Middle Stone Age Tool-making
New research shows how early humans fine-tuned their stone tools with remarkable consistency
For decades, archaeologists have debated the nuances of Levallois technology—a stone tool production method used by Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and other ancient hominins. These tools, characterized by a prepared-core technique that allowed for precise flake removal, have long been studied using traditional measurements. But a new study introduces a more sophisticated approach—three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GM)—to examine the shape and variability of Levallois cores, particularly those associated with the Nubian Levallois method.
This research, led by Emily Hallinan and João Cascalheira and published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, applies 3D scanning and advanced statistical modeling to Levallois cores from the Nile Valley and Dhofar, Oman. The results challenge long-held assumptions about how early humans controlled tool shape and suggest that the differences in Levallois core designs may be more influenced by cultural traditions than previously thought.
Why Levallois Technology Matters
Levallois technology represents a milestone in human cognitive and technological evolution. Unlike simpler stone tool techniques, Levallois required a high degree of planning—preparing a core in a way that controlled the shape and size of the resulting flake. This method provided a reliable way to produce standardized tools and reflects a level of foresight that archaeologists associate with complex cognition.
But despite its importance, Levallois technology has remained difficult to define with precision. Early typological classifications focused on the shape of the flake removed from the core, while later technological perspectives emphasized the step-by-step process of preparing the core itself. This new study offers a different lens: analyzing the entire three-dimensional structure of the core to assess how shape is controlled across different regions and tradition.
A New Approach: 3D Shape Analysis
Hallinan and Cascalheira applied 3D GM to capture the full complexity of Nubian Levallois cores—tools that were long thought to have been shaped using a distinct method primarily in Northeast Africa. This technique allowed them to measure not just the overall shape but the subtle variations in surface convexity, elongation, and ridge structure that traditional methods might miss.
By analyzing cores from Egypt's Nazlet Khater region and Dhofar, Oman, the researchers tested several hypotheses about Levallois toolmaking:
Was core shape independent of size, as suggested by the principle of "autocorrelation," meaning the shape remained consistent despite reduction in size through use?
Did different preparation strategies—such as distal versus lateral flake removals—result in distinct core shapes?
Did regional variation in Levallois core shape reflect broader cultural or environmental influences?
Findings: A Mix of Tradition and Adaptation
The study revealed that while core shape was largely maintained throughout reduction, there were significant regional differences. The cores from Dhofar were more elongated and had steeper distal ridges, while those from Nazlet Khater were flatter with a more convex lower surface. This suggests that while all these cores followed the same general technological principles, regional toolmakers may have had different priorities or traditions guiding their work.
"The fact that we see such distinct differences between regions suggests that shape was not purely a functional byproduct of Levallois reduction," the authors note. "Rather, there may have been cultural traditions at play in how these tools were made."
Implications for Human Evolution
One of the most intriguing findings was the high degree of standardization in Nubian Levallois core shape. While past studies have argued that Nubian cores were more uniform than other Levallois methods, this study quantified that standardization more rigorously.
"We tend to think about stone tools in terms of their function, but this level of consistency suggests an element of learned tradition," the researchers explain. "That raises new questions about how these techniques were transmitted across generations and how they may have influenced early human migration and adaptation."
These insights add to a growing body of evidence that early humans were not just adapting to their environments but were also shaping their technological world in ways that reflect social learning and cultural identity.
Future Research: Expanding the Scope
This study is one of the first to apply 3D GM techniques to Levallois cores, but its authors see potential for much broader applications. Future research could compare Levallois core shapes across different regions and time periods to map technological evolution more precisely. Additionally, applying these methods to other stone tool traditions could help clarify long-standing debates about how early humans developed their toolmaking skills.
By using cutting-edge digital tools to analyze some of the oldest human technologies, researchers are shedding new light on the cognitive and cultural abilities of our ancestors—showing that even a seemingly simple stone flake holds clues to the minds that made them.
Additional Related Research
Lycett, S. J., & von Cramon-Taubadel, N. (2013). "A quantitative 3D geometric morphometric analysis of Levallois core shape." Journal of Human Evolution, 64(6), 487-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.03.009
Eren, M. I., Lycett, S. J., & Roos, C. I. (2016). "The efficiency of stone tool production: Quantifying the effects of Levallois preparation." PLOS ONE, 11(6), e0158002. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158002
Blinkhorn, J., & Grove, M. (2021). "Cultural transmission and Levallois variability: A model-based assessment." Evolutionary Anthropology, 30(4), 208-218. https://doi.org/10.1002/evan.21855
Samawi, O., & Hallinan, E. (2024). "Levallois shape variability in Nubian assemblages: A comparative study of the Nile Valley and Arabia." Quaternary Science Reviews, 319, 108195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108195
This research marks an important shift in how archaeologists study ancient technology. By moving beyond traditional typologies and embracing 3D analytical techniques, it becomes possible to see ancient toolmakers not just as survival-driven engineers, but as participants in rich technological traditions passed down across generations.
Hallinan, E., & Cascalheira, J. (2025). Quantifying Levallois: a 3D geometric morphometric approach to Nubian technology. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02199-2