Lithic variability and cultures in the East African middle stone age
Lithics are the most abundant archaeological evidence from the remote past, however the way they are used to reconstruct past human groups is often biased. The Middle Stone Age (MSA) is the lithic techno-complex linked to the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa. However, there is no consensus in the scientific community about the significance of this lithic culture in terms of connections with particular human social groups nor its evolution. This paper focuses on the relation between lithic variability in the East African MSA and its meaning in terms of the structure of human groups, critical for interpreting the behavioral and evolutionary processes that led to Homo sapiens expansion within and out of Africa. Here I examine current knowledge and hypotheses and suggest some methodological advances to overcome the present difficulties.