A biomechanical investigation of the efficiency hypothesis of hafted tool technology

Barham, Lawrence ORCID: 0000-0002-5474-4668, Coe, Dominic, Gardiner, James and Crompton, Robin (2022) A biomechanical investigation of the efficiency hypothesis of hafted tool technology Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 19 (188). 20210660-. ISSN 1742-5662, 1742-5662

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Abstract

The transition from hand-held to hafted tool technology marked a significant shift in conceptualizing the construction and function of tools. Among other benefits, hafting is thought to have given users a significant biomecha- nical and physiological advantage in undertaking basic subsistence tasks compared with hand-held tools. It is assumed that addition of a handle improved the (bio)mechanical properties of a tool and upper limb by offer- ing greater amounts of leverage, force and precision. This controlled laboratory study compares upper limb kinematics, electromyography and physiological performance during two subsistence tasks (chopping, scrap- ing) using hafted and hand-held tools. Results show that hafted tool use elicits greater ranges of motion, greater muscle activity and greater net energy expenditure (EE) compared with hand-held equivalents. Importantly, however, these strategies resulted in reduced relative EE compared with the hand-held condition in both tasks. More specifically, the hafted axe prompted use of two well-known biomechanical strategies that help produce larger velocities at the distal end of the limb without requiring heavy mus- cular effort, thus improving the tool’s functional efficiency and relative energy use. The energetic and biomechanical benefits of hafting arguably contributed to both the invention and spread of this technology.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hafting, biomechanics, palaeolithic, chopping, scraping, energetics
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Aug 2022 07:56
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 10:00
DOI:	10.1098/rsif.2021.0660
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3150944
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