What Were They Doing in the Oldowan? an Ethnoarchaeological Perspective on the Origins of Human Behavior

Abstract

There are diametrically opposed opinions on the cultural capacities of the hominins that produced Oldowan assemblages. At one extreme, these early hominins are considered incapable of hunting, language, foresight; or maintaining home bases. Oldowan technology is considered a rudimentary reduction sequence used only for the production of flakes. At the other extreme, the authors of Oldowan assemblages are considered to possess substantial capabilities in all these areas. Ethnographic information on technology from Australia, compared with Oldowan archaeological data, provide an additional perspective in the debate over early hominin abilities. I argue that the view of Oldowan reduction sequences as adopted only for the production of flakes is too limited. A more comprehensive toolkit probably existed, consisting of throwing sticks, digging sticks, spears, chopping implements, stone balls, and flake tools. Given such a toolkit, home bases would be an expectable part of Oldowan social Organization. These inferences seem borne out at some Oldowan sites.