The origin of the Acheulean. Techno-functional study of the FLK W lithic record (Olduvai, Tanzania)

Abstract

The Acheulean materials documented in FLK West dated c. 1.7 Ma. are the focus of the present work. An original techno-functional approach is applied here to analyze the origin of Acheulean tools. According to the results, these tools were employed in different functional contexts in which tasks of different durations that transformed resources with different resistances were carried out. The exploitation of large and resistant resources suggests that the economic mechanism governing the manufacture of these tools was an increase in the demand of the work load. The decision processes underlying the production of these tools have thus an evident functional motivation. However, the presence of a refined handaxe in the studied sample indicates that the design form and production principles of handaxe manufacture were the result of an abrupt emergence rather than a long gradual development. The integration of mechanical and ergonomic investigation in our research has been crucial to explain how a core-and-flake industry gave way to a technology based on the production of large and heavy shaped tools.

Not a matter of shape: The influence of tool characteristics on electrodermal activity in response to haptic exploration of Lower Palaeolithic tools

“…We found no correlation between tool shape and tool weight, cortex area, or asymmetry. The absence of correlation between tool shape and weight was also found in an archaeological case‐study (Sánchez‐Yustos et al, 2017), while a faint correlation between unflaked area and elongation index ( R ≤ 0.4) was found in some assemblages (Sánchez‐Yustos et al, 2017; Shipton & Clarkson, 2015). At present, we can conclude that these correlations are null or at least negligible.…”

Artifact3-D: New software for accurate, objective and efficient 3D analysis and documentation of archaeological artifacts

“…In bifaces for instance, asymmetry has previously been calculated by segmenting the artifact longitudinally and comparing the paired segments [ 50 , 99 – 106 ], by using the flip test [ 64 , 107 , 108 ], by comparing the volumes of two halves [ 109 ], or by segmenting the artifact according to its most symmetrical axis and comparing the asymmetry of the two outline halves [ 13 , 16 , 17 , 98 , 110 – 112 ]. The Artifact3-D software uses this last method.…”

Continuity and change in lithic techno-economy of the early Acheulian on the Ethiopian highland: A case study from locality MW2; the Melka Wakena site-complex

“…Currently, the early Acheulian technocomplex is characterized by the coexistence of two distinct lithic reduction approaches-one for the production of small debitage, with various techno-typological elements continuing from the Oldowan technocomplex, and another for the newly established manufacture of LCTs [8,18,30,[43][44][45][46]. Both the small flake and LCT production systems are said to feature variability of lithic techno-economies, resulting from raw material properties and preferences (e.g., size and lithology), increasing diversity of knapping methods within each flaking system, and increased complexity of landscape use strategies [8,20,21,44,[47][48][49][50][51].…”