Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Oldowan

Abstract

Focal topics for volumes in the series will include systematic paleontology of all vertebrates (from agnathans to humans), phylogeny reconstruction, functional morphology, Paleolithic archaeology, taphonomy, geochronology, historical biogeography, and biostratigraphy. Other fields (e.g., paleoclimatology, paleoecology, ancient DNA, total organismal community structure) may be considered if the volume theme emphasizes paleobiology (or archaeology). Fields such as modeling of physical processes, genetic methodology, nonvertebrates or neontology are out of our scope.Volumes in the series may either be monographic treatments (including unpublished but fully revised dissertations) or edited collections, especially those focusing on problem-oriented issues, with multidisciplinary coverage where possible.

Subspheroids in the lithic assemblage of Barranco León (Spain): Recognizing the late Oldowan in Europe

“…Advances have been made in defining what is meant by the term 'Oldowan' [18], and new analyses of assemblages attributed to this techno-complex [31, 139,140] have contributed to reopening the debates on the associated cultural phase defined by Mary Leakey [13] as 'Developed Oldowan' [8]. These debates concern the validity of maintaining internal subdivisions within the Oldowan techno-complex, and whether or not the DO could be considered a transitional phase towards the Acheulian (as recognized by Leakey in DOB).…”

“…This change generated a process in which our hominin ancestors would come to distinguish themselves from other primates by learning a comparatively high degree of technological skills. The early stages of this process are reflected materially in the "Oldowan Industrial Complex" (OIC), a term coined in 1936 by Luis Leakey [12] and that came into general use from the 1970's [7,13,14,15,16,17,18] (or Mode 1, [19]). In its early context, the OIC grouped together lithic assemblages from early African sites [20] with strong similarities, characterized by homogeneity and variability as pointed out by Barsky [21] and Carbonell and colleagues [22].…”