石球是一种旧石器时代分布极为广泛的石质工具,有关其形制、制作与使用还存在较大的探索空间。其形制包括一般打制石球与琢制滚圆的石球。中国发现石球按大小可以分为两个类型,较大者多属于旧石器时代早中期,较小者多属于旧石器时代晚期及以后时期,本文讨论侧重前者。实验研究显示,石球生产是一项时间成本高昂的活动,如果加上琢制过程,所需要时间远多于手斧生产。旧石器时代早中期石球的大小与质量存在明显的偏向性,与成年男性手掌大小一致,这支持石球可能是直接握持使用的。投掷使用实验表明,平均质量与大小、形制规整的石球最有利于用手抓握投掷。结合考古材料中石球集中发现的状况与伴生动物化石进一步支持石球很可能是一种狩猎工具。不过采用石球狩猎距离较短,杀伤力有限,且更依赖机会,有较高风险。

Spheroid is a widely distributed tool type of the Paleolithic, from the Oldowan to Upper Paleolithic, all over the Old World. To date there are many divergent arguments about its manufacture and function. This study based on the archaeological records of China, where thousands of spheroids were found in 80 Paleolithic sites. Their forms include flaked spheroids and the highly rounded ones with battered surfaces, and the raw materials used vary from relatively soft limestone to quartzite. The metric data indicate it has an apparently skewed popularity in their size and weight, in accord with the size of male adults’ palm. An experimental approach is used to examine the techniques in the manufacture of spheroid, define the time cost of production, and test a functional possibility. Experiments suggest that the manufacture of spheroids is time costly, more expensive than the handaxe, more hours needed to produce a smoother surface. The dominant average size indicates that this tool was most likely used with freehand throwing. Throwing experiment shows, in relative to their distance, there is an optimal size and weight in spheroids. Combining archaeological context in which spheroids were found, we can conclude that spheroids could be a hunting tool, but shorter in shooting distance, more risky, and more opportunistic than the Upper Paleolithic hunting tools.