The early archaeological record consists primarily of two things- stones and bones.  And yet, we know that the material culture of the past had to be predominantly organic in nature. Plants, particularly those that produce long thin fibers, would have been invaluable.  And once our ancestors figured out that a twisted fiber was even better, a revolutionary technology was born. But when did this occur? And how do we find evidence for a technology that is made from perishable materials?

Bruce Hardy, Professor of Anthropology at Kenyon College, will examine the evidence, direct and indirect, for the emergence of fiber technology in the Paleolithic and explore the implications of this often neglected but transformative skill.

Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

This Zoom webinar with Bruce Hardy aired live on September 18, 2025 as part of the ongoing "HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic" series.