The Origin of the A cheulian

Abstract

Abstract Current evidence shows that the origin of the Acheulian dates back to at least 1.7 Ma in Africa. Although only three sites exist before 1.5 Ma, this complex technology seems to coexist for substantial time with small core and flake tools, typical of the Oldowan. While animal butchery has been widely documented at Oldowan sites, this activity remains marginal at Acheulian sites. There is a wide diversity of predominant tool types at Acheulian sites. This, together with spatial and palaeoecological patterning, is suggestive of a diversity of activities carried out at these sites according to ecological location. Acheulian sites are bigger than Oldowan sites, but their functions remain unknown. The complexity of the Acheulian has been exhaustively studied from a technological perspective, but not so much from a behavioural point of view. Understanding what activities were carried out at Acheulian sites is crucial to understand this crucial phase of the evolution of Homo erectus/ergaster . Key Concepts The Acheulian is the oldest human complex technology. It consists of large intentionally shaped tools. The Acheulian emerges 1.7 Ma. The oldest symmetrical bifacial handaxes show that complex neurophysiology existed at the beginning of the Acheulian. The diversity of tools and reduction sequences at Acheulian sites show that hominins had complex behaviours and adaptations in the early Pleistocene.