Diversity and multiplicity in the Asian Acheulian

Barsky, Déborah; Carbonell, Eudald; Ramos, Robert Sala

doi:10.1016/j.anthro.2018.01.004

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 71 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The early Oldowan arguably marks the beginning of cumulative, learned culture with this contention supported by experimental replication of core reduction strategies that indicate learning by copying (Morgan et al 2015;Stout et al 2019). By 2.0 Ma, Oldowan-like assemblages of flakes, cores and a limited range of small retouched tools (scrapers, notches, denticulates) are found in Southwest and Central Asia, India and China (Barsky et al 2018). Standardised tool forms are rare, but other behaviours relevant to the development of symbol are evident.…”

Section: Icons To Symbols In the Archaeological Recordmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The earliest evidence of large retouched tool forms marks the beginning of the Acheulean Technocomplex 1.75 million years ago in Africa, and the subsequent spread of its distinctive tools made on large flakes (> 10 cm) and blocks of stone into Southwest Asia, Europe, South Asia and parts of East Asia (de la Torre 2016; Barsky et al 2018). The characteristic retouched tool forms include hand-axes, cleavers, picks and knives (Fig.…”

Section: Icons To Symbols In the Archaeological Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Semiotics and the Origin of Language in the Lower Palaeolithic

Barham

Everett

2020

J Archaeol Method Theory

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper argues that the origins of language can be detected one million years ago, if not earlier, in the archaeological record of Homo erectus. This controversial claim is based on a broad theoretical and evidential foundation with language defined as communication based on symbols rather than grammar. Peirce's theory of signs (semiotics) underpins our analysis with its progression of signs (icon, index and symbol) used to identify artefact forms operating at the level of symbols. We draw on generalisations about the multiple social roles of technology in pre-industrial societies and on the contexts tool-use among non-human primates to argue for a deep evolutionary foundation for hominin symbol use. We conclude that symbol-based language is expressed materially in arbitrary social conventions that permeate the technologies of Homo erectus and its descendants, and in the extended planning involved in the caching of tools and in the early settlement of island Southeast Asia.

show abstract

Section: Icons To Symbols In the Archaeological Recordmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Icons To Symbols In the Archaeological Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semiotics and the Origin of Language in the Lower Palaeolithic

Barham

Everett

2020

J Archaeol Method Theory

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During the ensuing Multiplicity phase, this process was amplified exponentially as hominins continued tenaciously exploring the techno-social consequences of the changes materialized into the Late Acheulian during the upper Middle Pleistocene. 34 In sum, the Mode 0 industries are the ones that do not show Variability. They are homogeneous, there is no clear methodological diversity or size ranging, nor is there true configuration of cores and flakes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…This shift occurred in Africa some 2.6 million years ago, 30 or earlier. 33 In subsequent stages of stone knapping described by the HMM (Diversity, Multiplicity) 25,34 , hominins continued to obtain an ever-widening range of formal representations attributable to basic geometrical forms with which we are all familiar (dihedral, trihedral and pyramid, cubic, spherical).…”

Section: Approach and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaic lithic industries: structural homogeneity

Carbonell

Barsky

Castro

et al. 2018

JHAAS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some years ago, The Homogeneity to Multiplicity Model (HMM) was introduced as a structural framework for understanding the appearance and evolution of early stone tool techno-systems. Presently, the HMM provides an alternative and complimentary conceptual scheme with which to explain how and why particular morphotypes appeared and proliferated through time and space. This paper is especially dedicated to the very first stage of this model, Homogeneity, which refers specifically to the origins of human technologies in Africa more than 3 million years ago. Research on numerous ancient African and Eurasian stone tool assemblages provides empirical examples indicating that the oldest known hominin technologies most likely emerged out of a previous phase of long-term practice of percussive technologies. While primates and other animals make and use tools, only humans have evolved complex operative schemes involving chains of action that are intermediary to the primary goal of satisfying a survival-related desire; such as accessing or processing foodstuffs. Compared to other species, humans demonstrate total reliance upon toolmaking for survival. This adaptive strategy precludes elaborate and lengthy learning and socialization processes that are the very foundation of human material culture. The Homogeneity phase marks a turning point for humanity, from which our destiny would be irrevocably detached from that of all other animal species with which we share the planet. It characterizes the very basic structural nature of first toolmaking, with simple cores, flakes and percussion implements, which provided the foundational Potential to evolve towards Oldowan Variability.

show abstract

The Unity of Acheulean Culture

Shipton

2020

Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Diversity and multiplicity in the Asian Acheulian

Cited by 10 publications

References 71 publications

Semiotics and the Origin of Language in the Lower Palaeolithic

Semiotics and the Origin of Language in the Lower Palaeolithic

Archaic lithic industries: structural homogeneity

The Unity of Acheulean Culture

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About