Early hominid behaviour and culture tradition: raw material studies in Bed II, Olduvai Gorge

Abstract

Two studies involving an analysis of artefact raw material use in Bed II at Olduvai Gorge (1.6–1.4 myr) are reported. The first study shows evidence for the manufacture of chert artefacts at a factory site and the subsequent transport of selected whole flakes to another site for use. Early hominids are thus shown to have been capable of planning a sequence of activities involving raw material extraction, processing, selection and transport for an ultimate use. The transported artefacts are found accumulated at sites associated with animal bones, suggesting that hominids were a principal agent in site formation. The second study demonstrates that the attributes of the artefacts said to differentiate the Developed Oldowan B from the Early Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge are the result of differential raw material use.