Miniaturized stone tools made by controlled fracture are reported from nearly every continent where archaeologists have systematically looked for them. While similarities in technology are acknowledged between regions, few detailed inter-regional comparative studies have been conducted. Our paper addresses this gap, presenting results of a comparative lithic technological study between Klipfonteinrand and Sehonghong – two large rock shelters in southern Africa. Both sites contain Late Glacial (~18-11 kcal BP) lithic assemblages, though they are located in regions with different geologies, climates and environments. Results demonstrate that lithic miniaturization manifests differently in these different regions. Both assemblages provide evidence for small blade production, though key differences exist in terms of the specific technological composition of this evidence, the raw materials selected, the role played by bipolar reduction and the manner in which lithic reduction was organized. Patterned variability of this nature demonstrates that humans deployed miniaturized technologies strategically in relation to local conditions.

几乎每一个考古学家都在系统地寻找可控断裂的大陆，据报道有通过控制断裂而制成的微型石材工具。尽管各地区之间的技术相似性得到承认，但很少进行详细的地区间比较研究。我们的论文解决了这一差距，提出了Klipfonteinrand和Sehonghong（南部非洲的两个大型岩石避难所）之间的比较石器技术研究的结果。这两个站点都位于晚冰川期（〜18-11 kcal BP）的岩性组合，尽管它们位于具有不同地质，气候和环境的地区。结果表明，石块微型化在这些不同区域表现出不同的特征。两种组件都为小叶片生产提供了证据，尽管在该证据的具体技术组成，所选择的原材料，双极还原的作用以及组织石块还原的方式方面存在关键差异。这种性质的模式变异性表明，人类根据当地情况从战略角度部署了小型化技术。