Metin Eren, an associate professor at Kent State University, studies flintknapping, the ancient technique of shaping stone tools, which poses significant injury risks. Recent research indicates that flintknapping is far more dangerous than previously thought, with potential for severe wounds that could have led to infections in early humans, who lacked modern medical care. The study involves a survey of 173 contemporary flintknappers detailing their injuries, led by undergraduate Nicholas Gala. Findings include severe injuries such as deep cuts to bones and eye injuries, with some respondents requiring tourniquets for serious wounds. The research underscores the immense value of stone tools to early societies, who risked serious harm to create them, and suggests that social learning may have played a critical role in teaching safe techniques to minimize risks, as learning from experienced individuals helps mitigate injury. The work highlights how injuries, once considered minor, could have major consequences for survival, especially for caregivers in prehistoric communities. This valuable research, which received recognition in the journal American Antiquity, offers insight into the social dynamics of ancient tool-making and the associated risks that shaped early human behaviors.
