In today's fast-paced, technologically advanced world, people often take the innovation of new technology for granted without giving much thought to the trial-and-error experimentation that makes technology useful in everyday life. When the "cutting-edge" technology of the bow and arrow was introduced to the world, it changed the way humans hunted and fought. University of Missouri archaeologists have discovered that early man, on the way to perfecting the performance of this new weapon, engaged in experimental research, producing a great variety of projectile points in the quest for the best, most effective system.
Seems like an interesting study but I wonder how they will define variation. One would expect a certain amount of stylistic variation anyhow and the type of experimentation they're talking about would seem to revolve around functional concerns. Separating the two can be tricky.