Search

The Miño River is one of the main Atlantic basins of Iberia and preserves extensive Pleistocene deposits. However, there is presently limited information concerning the first human occupation history of this region. Existing research undertaken across the region has identified a significant number of Large Flake Acheulean (LFA) sites with African affinities. These sites are associated with former fluvial environments and are now preserved as a sequence of fluvial terraces along the Miño River, located between relative elevations of + 40 m and + 20 m, and dated to between Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 9 and 6. The chronological range and observed technological patterns are similar to those recognised in other areas of South western Europe, particularly the central Iberian Peninsula and Aquitanian region (France) during the second half of the Middle Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue Archéologique de Picardie is the property of Revue Archeologique de Picardie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

La réalisation d'une fouille au lieu-dit « Le Cassé » (Cornebarrieu, Haute-Garonne), apporte des données nouvelles sur les productions techniques de la fin du Pléistocène moyen dans le versant septentrional des Pyrénées. Malgré une mise en place du site en plusieurs phases révélées par l'analyse des états de surfaces, le mobilier archéologique représente une certaine homogénéité technologique. L'approvisionnement en matières premières s'effectue dans les alluvions de la basse et de la moyenne terrasse de la Garonne. Quelques matériaux peuvent témoigner d'un territoire parcouru plus vaste : quartz et quartzite du Massif central ou de la Montagne Noire, silicite du Verdier (Tarn). Les choix pétrographiques se portent à 97 % sur des quartzites et des quartz et à 3 % sur des silicites. Une économie partielle de la matière première s'exprime avec l'utilisation des silicites pour du débitage Levallois, rare, et de l'outillage léger sur éclat ; en parallèle, l'outillage lourd est à 96 % en quartzite. Les chaînes opératoires de débitage sont souvent non standardisées, associées à des productions par alternance de surfaces et à un débitage Discoïde, souvent unifacial. L'outillage lourd, fréquemment sur gros éclats supports, est composé d'unifaces, de bifaces et de hachereaux. L'ensemble de ces données, mises dans le contexte des techno-complexes nord-pyrénéens, permet de proposer un rattachement de la série du Cassé à l'Acheuléen pyrénéo-garonnais. Dans un contexte plus global de la fin du Pléistocène moyen en Europe méridionale, les données du Cassé renforcent l'hypothèse, précédemment émise, d'une entité techno-culturelle commune au nord et au sud de la chaîne pyrénéenne. An excavation at Le Cassé (Cornebarrieu, Haute-Garonne) has provided new data on Late Middle Pleistocene technical production on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. Despite the fact that the site was developed in several phases, as revealed by the analysis of the surface conditions, the archaeological remains show a certain technological homogeneity. Raw materials were obtained from alluvial deposits on the lower and middle terraces of the Garonne. Some materials, such as quartz and quartzite from the Massif Central or the Montagne Noire, and silica from Verdier, testify to the wider area covered by the site. The petrographic composition is 97% quartzite and quartzite and 3% silica. A partial economy of raw materials is expressed by the use of silicites for Levallois reduction, which is rare, and for light tools on flakes, whereas 96% of heavy-duty tools are made of quartzite. The reduction processes are often non-standard, associated with alternating surface production and Discoid, often unifacial. Heavy duty tools, often on large flake blanks, include unifaces, bifaces and cleavers. Taken together, this data, placed in the context of the techno-complexes of the northern Pyrenees, suggests that the Cassé series belongs to the Acheulean "pyrénéo-garonnais". In the broader context of the end of the Middle Pleistocene in southern Europe, the Cassé data supports the previously proposed hypothesis of a techno-cultural unit common to the north and south of the Pyrenees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le site acheuléen de plein-air de Revelles a été découvert en contexte de doline à l'occasion des travaux en 2002 de l'A29 à l'Ouest d'Amiens (Somme). Une unique occupation, dépourvue de faune, mais constituée de plus de 5000 artefacts, est attribuée au SIM 8. Cette occupation, très originale, nous permet de décrypter des caractéristiques typologiques et technologiques différentes des faciès connus en contexte de terrasse alluviale et quelque peu différent des autres contextes de plateaux et de dolines déjà étudiés comme ceux de Gentelles ou de la Ferme de l'Epinette. Trois chaînes opératoires majeures sont identifiées, l'une autour du façonnage de bifaces, l'une autour du façonnage de trifaces et une dernière autour de la production d'éclats bruts et d'éclats retouchés. La série de bifaces est constituée de formes lancéolées, de bifaces à dos, de pics-bifaces, de bifaces peu ébauchés à base corticale. Les formes ovalaires, amygdaloïdes et limandes sont déficientes. À Revelles, la fracturation des bifaces est notable et parmi les chutes de taille des bifaces et de leurs apex, il est souvent possible de faire la part entre la fracture due à la matière première parfois de mauvaise qualité, de celles, volontaires, qualifiées de ravivage. Entre les deux, les fracturations par flexion, obtenues en cours d'utilisation intensive de l'outil, nous laissent davantage dubitatifs. Le débitage est soigné avec une excellente productivité des surfaces de débitage produisant un grand nombre de couteaux à dos naturel. Le débitage Levallois n'est attesté que par quelques rares nucléus préférentiels ainsi que quelques produits de débitage. The open-air site and Acheulean site of Revelles has been discovered in a dolina context when the A29 motorway was built in 2002 west to Amiens (Somme). One single occupation, without faunal discoveries, has delivered more than 5000 artefact and has been correlated to SIM 8. This new occupation permits us to work out on typology and technology of a facies different from the traditional acheulian from the alluvial terrace like Cagny-l'Epinette or Cagny-la-Garenne and of a facies also different from the other plateaus or dolinas like Ferme de l'Epinette and Gentelles. Three main operating chains are identified, one around the production of handaxes, another around triface and the last one deals with the productions of flakes and tool-flakes. Among the handaxes typology, we encounter lanceolates, back-handaxes, picks-handaxes and many handaxes with a cortex basis. Traditional morphologies like ovalar, amygdaloid and limandes are away. In that site, broken handaxes are numerous and broken marks allow us to see the difference between the one depending of bad raw materials from those of a volunteer resharping. Between these two extremes some are the results of the flexion or diverse functions. The debitage is carefully done with a great productivity of each main core surface and a great proportion of long back-knives. The Levallois method is rarely present, only by few preferential cores and rare flakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter will consider the origins, evolution and adaptive significance of the Acheulean Industrial Complex, based upon experimental replicative and functional studies. It is argued here that the Acheulean emerged as a response to large-mammal carcass acquisition and butchery, where larger, heavier and more ergonomic butchery tools with long, sharp, durable edges were desirable. The production of hand axes and cleavers (as well as picks and knives), made either on large flake blanks struck from mega-cores or made on large cobbles, nodules, or tabular pieces, heralded a new technological sophistication and presumably greater cognitive skills. The Acheulean, beginning between approximately 1.76 million years ago (mya) and lasting in some places until around 154,000 years ago, also documented one of the most profound periods of encephalization in hominin evolution and the transition from Homo ergaster/erectus (hereafter referred to as Homo erectus) to Homo heidelbergensis (formerly called "archaic Homo sapiens "), and even very early Homo sapiens idaltu. Cranial capacity increased from approximately 800 cubic centimeters in H. erectus to about 1250 cubic centimeters in H. heidelbergensis (and presumably a proportional increase in anthropocentric encephalization quotient, or EQ, from approximately 0.5 to 0.85, with modern humans and Homo sapiens idaltu with a cranial capacity of 1450 cc representing an EQ of roughly 1.00). This neural increase is correlated with more refined and standardized biface technologies over time and the rise of prepared core technologies. This increase in absolute and relative brain size is almost certainly also correlated through time with larger mean hominin group sizes, higher quality diets (i.e. more protein and fat food resources, primarily from animal tissue and obtained with an increasing reliance upon more complex technologies) and greater cognitive, social and communicative complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stratigraphical complex preserved at the site of Menez–Dregan I (Brittany, France) displays an alternating sequence of 17 occupation levels and of 4 marine deposits, between ca. 450 and 150,000 years (stratigraphical units 9a and 3b). The lithic industry retrieved at the site is extremely abundant, with more than 153,000 artefacts over 3 cm in length, as well as millions of knapping debris, and corresponds to a regional facies of the Acheulean, with heavy-duty tools essentially represented by choppers, as well as a few handaxes and cleavers. This paper presents a first synthesis of the data produced for almost 30 years on the site of Menez–Dregan I. The typological study of the entire lithic collection is now complete and allows us to assess the different human occupations that occurred at this site during the Lower Palaeolithic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The analysis of the functional potential of bifaces, which are artefacts extending beyond our technical memory, is based on direct (micro-wear) or indirect approaches (experimentation, relationship between form/function, comparative ethnography). Indirect approaches are fundamental when artefacts are not well enough preserved for micro-wear analysis, which is frequent for the middle Pleistocene. This article proposes a new method based on the three-dimensional acquisition of artefact images, enabling us to measure cutting edge angles and depth of cut. This process allows us to distinguish, in particular, between cutting edges created for longitudinal or transverse cutting. The application of this analysis to bifaces from UA P3 of the "Caune de l'Arago" brings to light tools with a high functional potential for longitudinal cutting, some of which were used for incising, others for deep cutting. These results corroborate those obtained by most micro-wear analyses and present new ways of interpreting the functional potential of bifaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy-duty scrapers are documented as a specific morphotype in ancient African and Eurasian toolkits from the Oldowan into the Acheulian. They are characterized by a flat platform perpendicularly oriented to a carinated edge. The convex surface of that edge displays semi-peripheral, unidirectional removals associated with steep retouch and/or crush marks. This morphotype has been described from numerous sites covering a long temporal scale and are diversely referred to in French as “ rostro-carénés” or “ nucléus-racloirs” and in English as “ massive scrapers ”, “ core scrapers ”, “ large scrapers ”, or “ heavy end-scrapers ”. Morpho-technological definitions and interpretations are reviewed to track the origin and evolution of heavy-duty scrapers over time and space. Results show that tools referred to as heavy-duty scrapers were made on thick cobbles during the Oldowan, and later, at the onset of the Acheulian, on Large Flakes, while smaller-sized items in Late Acheulian sites assume end-scraper morphologies. But should all of these tools really be grouped under a single denomination? Experimental work explores whether heavy-duty scrapers are the result of knapping processes, or if their morphology could be derived from other kinds of activities. Chronological continuity of the attributes specific to heavy-duty scrapers points to their role in ancient toolkits, suggesting that these scarce but ubiquitous primitive implements are, on equal footing with chopper-cores, one of the oldest morphotypes in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is a country located at the crossroads of possible migration routes between three continents and, as such, it plays a pivotal role in the distribution of Acheulean culture in Eurasia. Although Acheulean culture, which is considered to have reached Turkey via the “Levantine corridor”, shows a wide distribution in the Turkish Anatolian side, it is not found in the Thrace part of Turkey. Therefore, the spread of Acheulean culture from Turkey towards the Balkan Peninsula, i.e., in southeastern Europe, via the Thrace region of Turkey is not considered. However, the cultural artifacts of Acheulean culture are often found in eastern and southeastern Anatolia. The Acheulean cultural artifacts, especially bifaces, found in the open-air sites settled on the old river terraces – generally in the Euphrates and Tigris Basin – are strong indications of the distribution of Acheulean culture in Anatolia as well as the possible migration route of Homo erectus from Anatolia to the Caucasus. Many Acheulean sites recently identified in the Caucasus seem to support such a distribution as well. This paper discusses the distribution of Acheulean culture and possible routes spreading into Turkey according to the geographic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the Acheulian Techno-Complex in Asia appears to have occurred quasi-concurrently in the Levant, South Asia, East and South Africa. Throughout many parts of the huge geographical expanse of Asia, as elsewhere, this genesis was followed by the rapid diffusion of Acheulian techno-behaviors. This phenomenon of cultural radiation is attested in the archeological record throughout the Old World by an increased number of occurrences documenting growing demographic trends of Acheulian peoples, into the latter phases of the Middle Pleistocene. The “ Homogeneity to Multiplicity Model ” (HMM) is used here to provide a window for understanding the mechanisms behind the evolutionary changes observed throughout the very long duration and extensive geographical context of the Asian Acheulian. Since the beginning of the 19th century, Asia has continuously provided archeological evidence that is vital to our understanding of the “Acheulian revolution” and the plausible links it may have had with the appearance and evolution of Homo erectus s. l. The emphasis traditionally put on handaxes as hallmarks of Acheulian culture has falsely led many archeologists to propose models of cultural diffusion that have masked the true nature of the Acheulian as a worldwide phenomenon in which Asia has always played a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Des prospections systématiques dans la vallée du Rhins, petit affluent de la Loire (sud-est de la France), ont livré depuis plus de vingt ans des séries lithiques. Le nombre de localités de plein air s’élève à ce jour à 28. Elles livrent pour la plupart des bifaces, des nucléus, dont un grand nombre sont Levallois, et des éclats. Bien que le nombre de pièces varie selon les localités, les données accumulées depuis plus de vingt ans sont suffisantes pour cartographier un territoire de petite taille et comparer des assemblages pouvant être rattachés à la fin de l’Acheuléen. La comparaison des stratégies mises en œuvre, débitage et façonnage, permet de proposer des hypothèses sur l’occupation de la vallée, avec des habitats localisés sur les gîtes de matières premières et nécessitant très souvent à la fois grands outillages et produits de débitage. Quelques grandes catégories de pièces bifaciales, principalement en silex, sont présentes. Leur ratio et l’intensité de leur aménagement semblent départager les gisements. Le débitage Levallois est présent dans une grande majorité de séries, associé à divers autres types de débitage. La présence de ces gisements localisés sur les plateaux bordant les deux berges de cette petite vallée offre la possibilité de visualiser à une échelle micro-régionale des occupations humaines partageant des traits communs, ceci située entre le grand axe Saône-Rhône et les bassins intérieurs du Massif Central. L’axe rhodanien a livré à ce jour encore peu d’indices d’occupations acheuléennes en plein air. L’existence de tels sites prouve que des recherches systématiques doivent se poursuivre dans ces secteurs. Systematic surveys on the Rhins Valley, a little tributary of the Loire River (South East France), have yielded lithic assemblages for more than 20 years. The number of open-air localities totals at that moment 28. The assemblages are composed for the most of bifaces, cores, including many Levallois cores, and flakes. Although the number of pieces varies in localities, data recorded for more than 20 years are enough to map a small size territory and compare assemblages attributed to the end of the “Acheulean”. Comparison of strategies, debitage and façonnage, provides hypotheses on the type of occupation of the valley, with living spots located on the flint outcrops and asking both a heavy-duty component and flaking products. Some main categories of bifacial tools are present, mainly on flint. The ratio of bifaces and intensity of shaping seems to distinguish the series. The Levallois core technology is used in large quantity associated to diverse other core technologies. These sites located on the plateaus bordering the valley offer the opportunity to describe human occupations on a micro-regional scale, occupations sharing technological common features. These occupations are located between the Saône-Rhône corridor and the isolated basins of the Massif Central. The rhodanian corridor has yielded at that moment few evidence of Acheulean open-air human occupations. These sites attest that systematic surveys have to continue on these areas to complete the knowledge on the occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Awash region of Ethiopia contains a rich record of Acheulean occupation spanning from Early Pleistocene times through much of the Middle Pleistocene. Here we will present an overview of some of the major reported features of the Acheulean archaeological record of the Middle Awash (Clark et al., 1994; de Heinzelin et al., 2000) and compare and contrast earlier and later biface technological patterns in this important study area. As an overall pattern, later Acheulean bifaces, here tend to differ from earlier ones in the following characteristics: later biface forms tend to be smaller, more ovate, wider relative to length, thinner (both relative to length and width and in absolute terms), more symmetrical, more heavily flaked, show greater use of soft hammer flaking and Kombewa technique, be straighter-edged or less sinuous, and often exhibit a remarkably high degree of standardization at a given site. These technological changes over perhaps half a million years (between approximately 1.0 and 0.5 million years ago) accompany the transition from Homo erectus to Homo heidelbergensis in this region. The later technological patterns thus correlate with the emergence of larger-brained, more intelligent hominids that exhibit greater technological finesse and also appear to develop and maintain stronger rules and traditions pertaining to their technological behaviors. It is likely that, relative to earlier hominids, these later hominid forms (which would evolve into early anatomically modern humans or Homo sapiens ) had richer communicative abilities and cultural complexity, which we believe to be manifested in the technological finesse and standardization of their material culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé La grotte du Lazaret renferme des dépôts archéologiques contemporains du passage de la culture acheuléenne au moustérien, rapportés au stade isotopique marin 6 (MIS 6). Les fouilles archéologiques ont permis d’individualiser vingt-neuf unités archéostratigraphiques qui témoignent d’installations récurrentes, de plus ou moins longue durée, par des groupes d’ Homo heidelbergensis . Ces hommes chassaient préférentiellement le cerf et le bouquetin, retrouvés en abondance dans toutes les unités. En comparaison, certaines espèces, comme le chamois et le chevreuil, sont faiblement représentées. Nous présentons dans cet article les résultats des analyses archéozoologiques et taphonomiques conduites sur les ossements de ces petits ongulés afin de déterminer leur origine dans la grotte. Dans certaines unités, une chasse anthropique de type opportuniste est mise en évidence, expliquant la faible proportion de ces espèces sur le site qui présentent peu d’apports nutritifs pour subvenir aux besoins du groupe. Un approvisionnement par les carnivores est également observé ; il est effectué essentiellement par le loup, dont les restes sont abondants dans les unités supérieures. Lazaret Cave contains archaeological deposits contemporaneous with Acheulean and Mousterian cultures, corresponding to marine isotopic stage 6 (MIS 6). Archaeological excavations at the site revealed twenty-nine archaeostratigraphic units with recurring, relatively long occupations by Homo heidelbergensis groups. These groups preferentially hunted red deer and ibex, which were abundant in all the units. In contrast, other species, such as the chamois and the roe deer, are poorly represented. In this article, we present the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomic analyses of small ungulate bones in order to determine how these remains were deposited in the cave. Opportunistic anthropogenic hunting is brought to light in some units, explaining the low proportion of these species at the site. In addition, these species only provide low nutrient levels for the needs of the group. The accumulation of remains by carnivores is also observed, mainly by the wolf, which is abundant in the upper units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé L’existence d’une industrie acheuléenne en Chine est une question controversée depuis longtemps. Dès les années 1980, grâce aux prospections et aux fouilles de plus en plus nombreuses entreprises sur des sites paléolithiques et à la communication accrue avec les milieux universitaires occidentaux, les chercheurs chinois participent activement à la discussion et aux recherches sur l’acheuléen. Cet article tente de replacer l’étude de l’industrie bifaciale en Chine dans une perspective globale. L’étude des assemblages acheuléens en Chine passe par une comparaison entre des assemblages issus de sites chinois et ceux issus d’un grand nombre de sites similaires. If Acheulean industry exists in China is a controversial issue for a long time. After the 1980, accompanying more surveys and excavations engaged in the Paleolithic Archaeology and more and more communication with western academic circles, Chinese researchers participate in the discussion and inquiry on Acheulean actively. This paper attempts to study the bifacial industry in China in global perspective by the theory of relativity between universality and particularity. We try to gather more sites, which are similar to those in China, and review the Acheulean assemblages in China by intersite comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Dans le cadre du projet de recherche sur le peuplement préhistorique que nous menons dans la partie littorale occidentale de l’Algérie, des prospections ont permis de découvrir pour la première fois un important site acheuléen à Errayah près de Mostaganem à quelques kilomètres de la mer Méditerranée. La présence de cette culture acheuléenne dans les régions littorales constitue un intérêt scientifique particulier pour la connaissance de l’expansion de cette culture en Afrique du Nord, et l’étude de l’adaptation des artisans acheuléens à l’écologie méditerranéenne. Les travaux de terrain et les fouilles systématiques menés depuis 2001 ont permis de mettre en évidence une séquence stratigraphique acheuléenne continue à Errayah comportant quatre niveaux archéologiques distincts. Les données préliminaires attestent que ce site représente la plus ancienne occupation acheuléenne du littoral méditerranéen. Les fouilles ont livré un matériel lithique riche et diversifié technologiquement composé non seulement d’éléments diagnostiques de l’Acheuléen à l’instar de bifaces, hachereaux, trièdres et grands éclats, mais aussi de nucléus, éclats variés et pièces retouchées. L’étude préliminaire des assemblages lithiques acheuléens recueillis dans les différents niveaux d’occupation atteste une grande variabilité technologique. La caractérisation de cette variabilité est basée sur les systèmes de production pour chaque niveau archéologique. L’analyse des caractères morphologiques et techniques vise en premier lieu à définir les techniques de débitage et de façonnage de l’outil bifacial et non bifacial. Cette démarche prend également en considération la diversité et la nature des matériaux utilisés par les artisans acheuléens. In the context of the research project on the prehistoric settlement that we are carrying out in the Western coastline of Algeria, a number of excavations lead us to discover for the first time an important Acheulean site in the locality of Errayah near Mostaganem, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of the Acheulean culture in the coastal regions constitutes a particular scientific interest in learning more about the expansion of this culture in North Africa, and in studying the adaptation of the Acheulean group to the Mediterranean ecology. The archeological surveys and the systematic excavations carried out since 2001 have brought to light a continuous sequence of Acheulean stratigraphy at Errayeh, comprising four distinct archaeological levels. The preliminary data authenticate that this site represents the oldest Acheulean occupation in the Mediterranean coastline of Algeria. The excavations have revealed a rich and diversified lithic material made up of not only diagnosis elements of the Acheulean like for instance hand axes, cleavers, trihedral picks and large fragments, but also nuclei, varied fragments and touched up pieces. The preliminary study of the lithic Acheulean assembly pieces collected from the various levels of occupation are evidence of a great technological variability. The characterization of this variability is based on the production systems for each archaeological level. The analysis of the morphological and technical characters seeks primarily at defining the techniques of cutting up and shaping of the bifacial and non-bifacial tools. This approach also takes into account the diversity and the nature of materials used by the Acheuleans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé En mars 1863, Jacques Boucher de Perthes découvre dans les alluvions de Moulin Quignon (Abbeville, France) une mandibule humaine associée à des artéfacts lithiques et à des ossements de grands mammifères fossiles. Rapidement contestée, cette découverte va apparaître comme une supercherie dont le préhistorien aurait été la victime. Depuis cette époque, la collection et le gisement de Moulin Quignon sont synonymes de fraude archéologique dans l’imaginaire collectif. Oubliées pendant près de 150 ans, ces collections sont redevenues en 2012 un objet de recherche dans le cadre d’un programme consacré aux plus anciens peuplements et à l’Acheuléen. L’objectif de ce réexamen fut d’identifier, puis d’étudier l’ensemble de la documentation recueillie durant les années 1863–1864 (restes humains, artéfacts, sédiments, ossements de faune, restes malacologiques, archives, publications, gisement) afin de permettre une nouvelle analyse de l’ensemble du dossier. In March 1863, Jacques Boucher de Perthes found in the alluvia of Moulin Quignon (Abbeville, France) a human jaw in association with lithic artifacts and fossil bones of mammals. Quickly challenged, this discovery will appear as a fraud whose prehistorian was the victim. Since that time, the collection and the Moulin Quignon site are synonymous with an archaeological forgery. Forgotten for almost 150 years, these collections became in 2012 a research topic in the context of a program devoted to oldest settlements and Acheulean. The objective was to identify and study the whole 1863–1864 documentation set (human remains, artifacts, sediments, fauna bones, malacological remains, archives, papers, site) to allow further analysis of the whole subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé La collection de Moulin Quignon est une collection cohérente, malgré la diversité de ses pièces, dans la certitude de sa provenance et dans son rattachement aux recherches menées sur le site en 1863–1864. Considérée comme historique et patrimoniale, son étude a permis néanmoins de livrer des informations scientifiques importantes et valables pour le présent, et, au-delà, de réintroduire le site de Moulin Quignon dans le panel des gisements paléolithiques les plus anciens de la vallée de la Somme. The collection from Moulin Quignon is a coherent one, despite the diversity of its pieces, in the certainty of its origin, in its attachment to the researches led on the site in 1863–1864. Considered as a historic heritage, its study has nevertheless delivered significant scientific information, valid for the present, and, beyond that, to reintroduce the site of Moulin Quignon in the oldest Palaeolithic panel sites of the Somme valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé La séquence de Moulin Quignon a livré du matériel archéologique (restes osseux, outillages lithiques) dont la localisation stratigraphique est parfois signalée par Jacques Boucher de Perthes et ses collègues. Ce matériel a été utilisé comme preuve de l’authenticité du site et, encore davantage après la découverte des restes humains, de l’ancienneté du site. Certains bifaces sont présentés par ailleurs comme en étroite association avec la mandibule humaine découverte en 1863. En raison du soin apporté à ces découvertes (pièces annotées) et leur dépôt pour certaines d’entre elles au Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), il est possible à ce jour de les replacer dans la séquence et de les réexaminer. L’étude porte sur le matériel osseux et lithique dont la position stratigraphique est clairement établie, matériel déposé entre autres par Boucher de Perthes au Muséum. Notre propos concerne les quelques pièces osseuses déterminables et les bifaces dont les analyses paléontologiques et l’analyse technologique permettent de replacer le site dans le contexte nord-européen. Ces objets sont replacés dans leur contexte historique et leurs conditions de découvertes. The sequence of the Moulin Quignon quarry yielded archaeological findings (faunal remains, artefacts) and some of them are well located in the stratigraphy thanks to Jacques Boucher de Perthes and colleagues. These remains are often used to attest the early age of the site and the human remains. Some bifaces have been found in close relationship to the human remains and, in particular, the mandible found in 1863. Thanks to the handwritten label put on the pieces and their deposit at the National Museum of Natural History (Paris), it is possible to study them again in relation with the sequence. The study concerns the rare faunal remains and the bifaces given, among others, by Boucher de Perthes to the Museum. The paleontological and technological analyses allow us replacing the lithic material among the north-western European data. The material is presented according to the historical context of his discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Depuis plus d’un siècle, le site acheuléen de l’Erg Tihodaïne a fait l’objet de plusieurs travaux de recherches qui ont permis la récolte d’un matériel lithique très abondant en surface et dans l’unité morphostratigraphique rattachée au Pléistocène moyen. Malgré l’importance de cette industrie lithique, aucune analyse technologique d’ensemble n’a été réalisée. Dans cet article, nous fournissons les caractéristiques d’une stratégie de production lithique à travers l’analyse technologique de trois séries dans le but de tenter de cerner les comportements techniques essentiels des hominidés acheuléens installés sur les bords de l’ancien lac de l’Erg Tihodaïne. For more than a century, the Acheulian site of Erg Tihodaïne has been the subject of several research works that yielded an abundant lithic material from surface and from the morphostratigraphic unit related to the Middle Pleistocene. Despite the importance of the lithic industry, no overall technological analysis has been conducted so far. In this article, we provide the characteristics of a strategy of lithic production through technological analysis of three series, in an attempt to identify key technical behavior of the Acheulian hominids settled on the former lakeshore of Erg Tihodaïne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Le site d’Aïn Dfali se trouve au sud de la ville d’Ouazzane et au Nord-ouest du village Aïn Defali. Cette zone se situe à l’extrémité ouest de la plaine du Gharb dans la zone sud des nappes pré-rifaines. Les formations quaternaires sont localisées sur la rive droite de l’oued Redat. Les grandes collines, à l’ouest du village d’Aïn Dfali, sont constituées d’alluvions à cailloutis et à graviers attribuées au Quaternaire ancien. Au piémont de ces collines, le Quaternaire moyen prend place avec un relief atténué. La matière première exploitée pour la confection de l’industrie trouvée sur le site est constituée essentiellement de quartzite avec un choix des supports de taille moyenne à grande. Les chaînes opératoires ne sont pas complètes comme démontré par l’absence de la composante relative aux éclats de mise en forme et de petites dimensions. Les chaînes opératoires de façonnage et de débitage coexistent. Le façonnage est essentiellement représenté par des bifaces et des chopper-nucléus . Les bifaces sont souvent façonnés sur une face et montrent d’importants résidus corticaux ; il s’agit de bifaces sur éclats ou sur galets allongés et aplatis. Les éclats utilisés comme support sont généralement corticaux. Les chopper-nucléus sont exploités par débitage unipolaire unifacial (de 3 à 5 enlèvements) et montrent un tranchant sinueux probablement non fonctionnel. Les méthodes de débitage sont Levallois (récurrent et linéale), discoïde unifaciale et bifaciale et SSDA. Le débitage SSDA voit l’exploitation de 2/4 plans de frappe par une méthode unipolaire pour l’obtention d’éclats de grandes/moyennes dimensions de formes irrégulières et souvent à résidus corticaux latéraux. Très peux produit retouché ont été trouvé. Le débitage Levallois est fait sur des galets aplatis et ronds, la mise en forme de la surface Levallois est réalisée par des enlèvements centripètes et le plan de débitage montre soit le détachement d’un éclat préférentiel de forme ronde soit une exploitation récurrente centripète ou récurrente unipolaire ; documentée aussi par la production des pointes Levallois. Le débitage discoïde, sur galets arrondis, est surtout de type unifacial et voit l’exploitation préférentielle d’une convexité prononcée ou l’exploitation alternée de deux convexités opposées. Les produits obtenus sont épais et ont une forme triangulaire/quadrangulaire avec des négatifs convergents. Le matériel retrouvé à Aïn Dfali est le résultat d’un transport sélectif et se trouve en position secondaire mais permet d’attester une importante occupation préhistorique acheuléenne dans la région. The site of Aïn Dfali is located in the south of Ouazzane city of, in the Northwest of the village Aïn Defali. This area is situated at the western end of the Gharb plain in the southern area of pre-Rif tables. The Quaternary formations are located on the right bank of the river Redat. The large hills, at the West of Aïn Dfali village, consist of alluvium gravel attributed to Early Quaternary. In the foothills, the Middle Quaternary takes place with an attenuated highlighted. The exploited raw material used to make the lithic industries, found on the site, consists mainly of quartzite with a choice of mid/big-sized blocks. The reduction sequences are not complete as demonstrated by the absence of preparation and small flakes. Debitage and shaping reduction sequences coexist in this site. The shaping is essentially represented by handaxes and chopper-cores. Handaxes are often shaped on one side and show significant cortical residues; they are shaped on flakes elongated and flattened cobbles. The flakes used as blanks are generally cortical. The chopper-cores are exploited by unifacial unipolar knapping (from 3 to 5 removals) and show a probably non-functional sinuous edge. The utilized methods of knapping are Levallois (recurrent and lineal), discoid bifacial and unifacial and SSDA. The SSDA method shows the exploitation of 2/4 knapping platforms by an unipolar method aimed at obtaining large/medium sized flakes with irregular shapes and often lateral cortical residues. Very few retouched blanks were found. The Levallois debitage is done on flat and rounded cobbles, the preparation of the Levallois surface is carried out by centripetal knapping and the debitage surfaces show the detachment of a preferential flake, with a round shape, or a recurrent (centripetal or unipolar) exploitation; also documented is the production of Levallois points. The discoid debitage is performed on rounded cobbles, it is mostly unifacial and it shows the preferential exploitation of a pronounced convexity or the alternating exploitation of two opposing convexities. The flakes obtained are thick and have a triangular/rectangular shape with converging negatives. The material found in Aïn Dfali is the result of a selective transport and is in the secondary position but allows to certify an important prehistoric Acheulian occupation in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East is apparently the most important passage for the dispersal of early hominins. Numerous archeological sites prove the existence of hominin populations in this region, but despite these rich cultural remains, hominin fossils are very rare. In 1996, a hominin left parietal was found in an Acheulean context. In addition, the faunal remains indicate a steppe environment. What does this single cranial fragment tell us? Based on new publications and in particular on recent finds, the value of isolated elements is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Les séries lithiques de cinq gisements de plein air livrant à la fois des bifaces et du débitage Levallois offrent la possibilité d’examiner et comparer des assemblages cohérents pouvant être rattachés à de l’Acheuléen, probablement final, dans la Loire (Sud-Est de la France). La comparaison des stratégies mises en œuvre, débitage et façonnage, permet de discuter de la variabilité des séries, ateliers ou sites aux activités plus diversifiées nécessitant grands outillages et éclats. Trois grandes catégories de pièces bifaciales, principalement en silex, sont présentes dans les sites, de forme triangulaire, ovalaire et à tranchant transversal. Le ratio et l’intensité de l’aménagement des pièces bifaciales opposent les sites. Le débitage Levallois est présent partout, récurrent centripète ou unipolaire, associé à divers autres types de débitage. La présence de ces gisements localisés sur les plateaux bordant les berges d’une petite vallée permet de discuter de l’occupation humaine entre le grand axe Saône-Rhône et les bassins intérieurs du Massif Central. L’axe rhodanien a livré à ce jour encore peu d’indices d’occupations acheuléennes en plein air à l’inverse du Centre de la France. L’existence de tels sites prouve que des recherches systématiques doivent se poursuivre dans ces secteurs permettant de dresser une cartographie des types d’habitats acheuléens et de discuter de leur diversité. The lithic assemblages of five open-air sites offer the opportunity to observe and compare Final Acheulean series located in the Loire department (South-East France). The sites were probably multi-activity places including large tools and flakes, according to the strategies used by humans. Three main categories of large bifacial tools mainly made of flint can be described, with a triangular or oval shape and with a transversal cutting edge. The ratio and intensity of flaking oppose the series. The Levallois flaking is always present and associated to various other types of methods. The sites, located on plateaus on the two banks of a small valley, suggest human circulating between the Saône-Rhône corridor and the interior basins of the Massif Central Mountains. The Rhodanian corridor yielded little evidence of Acheulean open-air settlements while in the Centre of France, they are numerous. These sites prove that systematic prospecting in this area will permit in future to complete the map of the Acheulean occupations in south-east France and discuss about the variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is one of the rich countries in terms of the Lower Palaeolithic period. The favourable climatic and environmental conditions and quality stone raw material resources in the Pleistocene period caused the country to be heavily occupied by the people of the Lower Palaeolithic. Turkey has biface and flake industries of the Lower Palaeolithic period. Biface industries are more common in open-air sites and are often linked to the Acheulean. Biface tools are only found in the deposits of Karain Cave. The eastern and south-eastern parts of Turkey are the densest regions in terms of biface industries. This density decreases towards the west. However, this general appearance may have resulted from the insufficient level of excavations and surveys of Palaeolithic archaeology throughout the country. In this article, we try to draw a general framework of the Lower Palaeolithic period in Turkey, based on the important Lower Palaeolithic settlements in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shown here are the discoveries made in former times on a site at the confluence of the Indrois and the Indre, the most important being that of a small deposit from the Middle Bronze Age.

Résumé: La variabilité est l’un des sujets les plus débattus dans les études lithiques. En ce qui concerne la période du Pléistocène moyen, ce débat s’est centré spécifiquement autour de la signification des grands outils standardisés comme les bifaces et les hachereaux. Cet article présente l’assemblage lithique de Covacha de los Zarpazos qui fait partie du gisement de Galería à la Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Espagne). Nous analysons ici la gestion des matières premières, les séquences de taille identifiées, et la variation morphologique des grands outils standardisés. Les résultats montrent que, bien qu’elles ne présentent aucune contrainte réelle, les matières premières jouent un rôle important dans la variabilité morphologique définitive. Nous démontrons également que la variabilité globale d’un ensemble lithique est déterminée par une stratégie d’occupation régulière et des activités spécifiques développées dans le site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Middle Stratigraphical Complex of the Caune de l’Arago cave site (Eastern Pyrenées, France) is dated to between 690,000 and 400,000 years old. The site contains successive, spatially distinct archaeological levels. At the base of the sequence, Unit I (OIS 14), where the P levels are among the earliest Mode 2 assemblages presently known in western Europe, contains finely shaped handaxes and a cleaver. Situated above this ensemble, Unit II (OIS 13) has revealed a series of artefact levels lacking handaxes and cleavers. Coiffing the sequence, Unit III (OIS12) has provided numerically rich faunal and lithic assemblages in association with Homo heidelbergensis remains. This paper analyses the stone industries from each artefact level taking into account raw material variability and highlights subtle technological and typological differences. This intrasite study uses a multidisciplinary approach to examine common elements and differences between levels, taking into consideration how external impact factors might have influenced global assemblage features. The Caune de l’Arago's long stratigraphical sequence provides an exceptional opportunity to observe both change and stability in Mode 2 stone-tool manufacture over a period spanning nearly 300,000 years, within the context of contrasting paleoenvironmental conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Les recherches archéologiques conduites dans la région de Baia-Farta, province de Benguela (Angola) ont permit de mettre en évidence l'existence d'un vaste complexe archéologique sur les deux rives du fleuve temporaire Dungo. A Dungo IV, deux importantes industries lithiques bien distinctes ont été trouvées en stratigraphie, la plus ancienne est considérée comme Pré-Acheuléenne et la plus récente est attribuée à 1 Acheuléen. Le site Dungo V présente un cas unique de charognage d'un cétacé échoué sur une vaste dépression connue comme paléo lac. La chronologie des sites de Dungo se trouve dans une large fourchette entre 0,7 et 2,1 millions d'années. Le chantier école de Baia Farta permet la formation théorique et pratique des étudiants de l'Université Katiavala Bwila de Benguela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Amane Oukider site (Tinghir, Anti-Atlas) was discovered by an Italo-Moroccan field crew during an archeological mapping project in South-East Morocco. It is an open-air site located near a outcrop of raw materials composed of dolerite. The only debitage method in evidence is the Levallois (lineal and recurrent centripetal) method; the plein débitage products were systematically exported from the site. The Levallois preferential flakes are characterized by a very high level of standardization and they were probably used as blanks for cleaver production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Acheulean and Mousterian human occupations left an abundant record of lithic productions in the Liguro-Provençal region. Certain sites show the transition between the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic, yielding industries in which the shaping of bifaces continued along with partial Levallois reduction and the development of light-duty, retouched Mousterian tools. In the more recent sites, Mousterian lithic productions show further development in Levallois reduction techniques and sometimes blade production, while shaping techniques disappeared. The transport of artefacts of exotic lithic raw materials from sometimes very distant sources had already occurred by the end of the Acheulean, and the example of the use of allochthonous jasper illustrates an aspect of techno-economical behaviours and the mobility of these human groups. Such transport of jasper blanks from distant sources became further developed at certain Mousterian sites in Liguria, but with the addition of knapping and retouching activities at the occupation sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This article presents the dating results recently obtained on three archaeological sites in Europe. At Orgnac 3 (Ardèche, France) from where the last Homo heidelbergensis fossils are associated with the first evidence of levallois technique, two speleothem formations from the 5b–6–7th layers were U-Th dated with MC-ICPMS, giving an age range of 319–255ka (2σ) (MIS 8–9), while the volcanic ash-bearing second layer was dated by 40Ar/39Ar, obtaining a preliminary date of 308.2±6.8ka (2σ). The combined ESR/U-Th dating of red deer enamel teeth from Lazaret cave (Alpes-Maritimes, France) attributed ages of 120–190ka to the Acheulean and pre-Mousterian layers (MIS 6), which is in agreement with previous TIMS U-Th dates between 108 and 44ka on calcite samples from the overlying TRA trench (MIS 5, 4, 3). At Zafarraya (Andalousie, Espagne), a number of 14C measurements on charcoal samples as well as combined ESR/U-Th dates on Capra and Equus dental enamels assigned the Mousterian artefacts and neandertalian fossils-bearing deposits an age interval between 42 and 34ka (MIS 3). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The lithic assemblage of La Garde offers the opportunity to observe a Final Acheulean series located in the Loire department (south-east France). The site was probably a multi-activity place asking large tools and flakes, according to the strategies used by humans. Three main categories of large bifacial tools mainly made of flint can be described, with a triangular or oval shape and with a transversal cutting edge. These tools are more bifacial-tools than bifaces through the kind of shaping and the retouches on the cutting edges. The Levallois flaking is associated to various other types of knapping. The site, located along a small valley, suggests a human circulating between the Saône-Rhône corridor and the interior basins of the Massif Central Mountains. The Rhodanian corridor yielded little evidence of Acheulean settlements while in the Centre of France, they are numerous. La Garde proves that systematic prospecting in this area will permit in future to complete the map of the Acheulean occupations in south-east France. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Until 1950, a few handaxe yielding sites were known in China. Since then, several sites were discovered, as for example Dingcun, Lantian and Bose. However, only after the publication of the discovery of handaxes at Bose in 2000, the theory of Movius, who rejected the evidence of proper handaxes in China, was really questioned. This bad understanding of the prehistory in China, would be bound to a misunderstanding of the geological Quaternary context. This article aims at improving the situation by presenting the stratigraphy of handaxe-yielding sites according to their geographical and environmental context, highly contrasted between north and south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The largest collection of Acheulian artefacts in the Siwalik region is from the site of Atbarapur in north-western India. The artefacts occur in reworked sediments of the Pinjore Formation, starting with the onset of the Pleistocene and continuing at places in this region till 0.6 Ma. The technical study shows two similar “chaînes opératoires”: one based on cobbles for making small flakes and the second based on boulders for large flakes. Both are short and simple: cores are not prepared and each of them produced about seven flakes. Handaxes and cleavers, typical Acheulian tools, are made on the large flakes, often struck from the ventral face of larger flakes (Kombewa method) or from split boulders. The technology compares well with the Lower Pleistocene Acheulian of peninsular India, but with slightly more refined bifaces. It also compares with assemblages from Africa and East Asia: Atbarapur stands as a milestone on the diffusion route(s) of the Acheulian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dans ce document, nous actualisons les anciennes données sur l'Acheuléen saharien, bien que ces données ne soient pas nombreuses et toutes datées du 20ème siècle. Mais pour reprendre une nouvelle ère de recherche sur le sujet, il est bien évident de les évoquer. Malgré les fructueuses découvertes dans de nombreux sites paléolithiques inférieurs dans le Sahara, aucun intérêt scientifique n'a été apporté, notamment aux nombreuses collections lithiques entreposées dans plusieurs laboratoires de recherches scientifiques. Le nouveau site Acheuléen, « Téhéntawek », découvert dans la région d'Idelès, au cœur du Sahara central, dans l'Ahaggar et fouillé en 2008 et 2010, avec de nouvelles méthodes pédagogiques utilisées dans la préhistoire actuelle, nous a livré un matériel lithique intéressant et très représentatif de l'industrie acheuléenne. Ces démarches sont considérées comme novatrices pour la préhistoire saharienne. Une prospection appropriée et adéquate à l'environnement, l'adaptation du travail de terrain au contexte rocheux de la région de l'Ahaggar, nous ont permis de reconsidérer le terrain saharien. L'étude technologique du matériel lithique a fourni une diversité d'outils et une coexistence du chopper, du biface et du hachereau, les éclats bruts sont nombreux et très compatibles avec les nucléus. Les matières premières utilisées pour le façonnage de l'industrie lithique sont locales. Les résultats des analyses réalisées sur les sédiments prélevés ont fourni de nouvelles données, notamment une ouverture sur le paléoenvironnement de l'Ahaggar. Ainsi le site de Téhéntawek nous a offert des informations pertinentes sur la maîtrise de l'homme dans cet environnement saharien. In this document we are going to update the old data on the Saharan Acheulean, although this data isn't plenty and all dated from the 20th century. But to resume a new era of research on the subject, it is quite obvious to evoke it. Despite the fruitful discoveries in many lower Paleolithic sites in the Sahara, no scientific interest has been brought, in particular to the numerous lithic collections interposed in several scientific research laboratories. The new Acheulean site "Tehentawek" which was discovered in the region of Idelès, in the Ahaggar, right in the heart of central Sahara, and which was excavated using new research methods, revealed in 2008 and 2010 an interesting lithic material, very representative of the Acheulean industry. The steps adopted in the study of this site are considered renovative in Saharan prehistory. Appropriate and adequate exploration of the environment, the adaptation of field work to the rocky context of the Ahaggar region, allowed us to reconsider the Saharan terrain. The technological study of lithic material has provided a variety of tools containing choppers, hand axes and cleavers, as well as many raw flakes, sometimes compatible with the nucleus. The lithic raw materials used for shaping are local. The results of the analyzes carried out on the sediments collected can lead to a discussion on the Saharan palaeoenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]