The Clactonian: An Independent Complex or an Integral Part of the Acheulean? [and Comments and Reply

Abstract

The Clactonian tradition of the British Lower Palaeolithic is currently accepted as an autonomous prehistoric culture, distinct from the Acheulean and pre-dating it. The recent excavations of a number of central sites have opened up a new opportunity for a comprehensive reinvestigation of Clactonian versus Acheulean artifacts along with other aspects related to the two complexes. This study examines and analyzes an unprecedented quantity of objects from a great number of Clactonian and Acheulean sites in southeastern Britain. The data incorporated here lead to two alternative interpretations of the Clactonian with relation to the Acheulean. The first alternative suggests that the Clactonian was an independent industrial complex but highly episodical both in time and in space, being restricted to a few localities and lasting for a relatively short period. Consequently, it cannot be considered a rich, lengthy tradition as commonly believed. The second alternative-favored by this author-does not conceive of a Clactonian complex at all. This alternative suggests that the Clactonian ocurrences were nothing more than preparatory areas within the Acheulean industrial complex. "Clactonian" sites therefore represent spots in which the primary stages of the Acheulean manufacturing process were performed by Acheulean people. It is anticipated that further carefully controlled excavations, provided that they do not rule out this latter view at the outset, may well bring to light incremental evidence to support it.