Final answer:
The Mousterian tradition, associated with Neandertals, represents a significant evolution in early human's tool-making skills. It shifted the focus from shaping stone cores to utilizing the flakes chipped off in the process, resulting in smaller, sharper tools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stone-tool tradition associated with Neandertal finds in Europe and southwestern Asia is the Mousterian tradition. This tradition, which developed around 250,000 years ago, involved the creation of smaller, sharper tools made from stone flakes rather than cores. In contrast to the older Acheulean and Oldowan traditions, the Mousterian tradition involved the shaping of the flakes that were chipped off during the tool-making process into useful implements like small knives, scrapers, and spearheads.
This shift in tool-making techniques resulted in tools with increased utility, making them superior to those produced in older traditions. This tradition marks a significant advancement in the technology of early humans, demonstrating their innovative capability.
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