Examining time trends in the Oldowan technology at Beds I and II,Olduvai Gorge

The lithic analysis of the Bed I and II assemblages from Olduvai Gorge reveals both static and dynamic time trends in early hominids' technology from 1.8 to 1.2 m.y.a. The Bed I Oldowan (1.87-1.75 m.y.a.) is characterized by the least effort strategy in terms of raw material exploitation and tool production. The inclusion of new raw material, chert, for toolmaking in the following Developed Oldowan A (DOA, 1.65-1.53 m.y.a.) facilitated more distinctive and variable flaking strategies depending on the kind of raw materials. The unique characters of DOA are explainable by this raw material factor, rather than technological development of hominids. The disappearance of chert in the subsequent Developed Oldowan B and Acheulian (1.53-1.2 m.y.a.) necessitated a shift in tool production strategy more similar to that of Bed I Oldowan than DOA. However, the evidence suggests that Bed II hominids might have been more skillful toolmakers, intensive tool-users, and engaged in more active transport of stone tools than the Bed I predecessors. Koobi Fora hominids maintained a more static tool-using behavior than their Olduvai counterparts due mainly to a stable supply of raw materials. They differed from Olduvai hominids in terms of less battering of cores, consistent transport behavior, and few productions of side-struck flakes, indicating a regional variation of toolmaking and using practice. However, they shared with Olduvai hominids a temporal trend toward the production of larger flakes from larger cores after 1.6 m.y.a. Increased intake of animal resources and the expansion of ranging area of Homo ergaster would have led to the development of technological organization. Technological changes in the Oldowan industry are attested at Olduvai Gorge, Koobi Fora, and Sterkfontein, suggesting that it was a pan-African synchronous phenomenon, beginning at 1.5 m.y.a.     

The Oldowan industry of Peninj and its bearing on the reconstruction of the technological skills of Lower Pleistocene hominids

The Oldowan technology has traditionally been assumed to reflect technical simplicity and limited planning by Plio-Pleistocene hominids. The analysis of the Oldowan technology from a set of 1.6-1.4 Ma sites (ST Site Complex) in Peninj adds new information regarding the curated behavior of early hominids. The present work introduces new data to the few published monographic works on East African Oldowan technology. Its relevance lies in its conclusions, since the Peninj Oldowan assemblages show complex technological skills for Lower Pleistocene hominids, which are more complex than has been previously inferred for the Oldowan stone tool industry. Reduced variability of tool types and complex use of cores for flaking are some of the most remarkable features that identify the Oldowan assemblages from Peninj. Hominids during this period seem to have already been experimenting with pre-determination of the flaked products from cores, a feature presently assumed to appear later in time. Planning and template structuring of flaked products are integral parts of the Oldowan at Peninj.     

Quantifying Oldowan Stone Tool Production at Olduvai Gorge,Tanzania

Recent research suggests that variation exists among and between Oldowan stone tool assemblages. Oldowan variation might represent differential constraints on raw materials used to produce these stone implements. Alternatively, variation among Oldowan assemblages could represent different methods that Oldowan producing hominins utilized to produce these lithic implements. Identifying differential patterns of stone tool production within the Oldowan has implications for assessing how stone tool technology evolved, how traditions of lithic production might have been culturally transmitted, and for defining the timing and scope of these evolutionary events. At present there is no null model to predict what morphological variation in the Oldowan should look like. Without such a model, quantifying whether Oldowan assemblages vary due to raw material constraints or whether they vary due to differences in production technique is not possible. This research establishes a null model for Oldowan lithic artifact morphological variation. To establish these expectations this research 1) models the expected range of variation through large scale reduction experiments, 2) develops an algorithm to categorize archaeological flakes based on how they are produced, and 3) statistically assesses the methods of production behavior used by Oldowan producing hominins at the site of DK from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania via the experimental model. Results indicate that a subset of quartzite flakes deviate from the null expectations in a manner that demonstrates efficiency in flake manufacture, while some basalt flakes deviate from null expectations in a manner that demonstrates inefficiency in flake manufacture. The simultaneous presence of efficiency in stone tool production for one raw material (quartzite) and inefficiency in stone tool production for another raw material (basalt) suggests that Oldowan producing hominins at DK were able to mediate the economic costs associated with stone tool procurement by utilizing high-cost materials more efficiently than is expected and low-cost materials in an inefficient manner.     

湖北郧县肖沟旧石器时代遗址发掘简报

肖沟遗址位于湖北省郧阳区安阳镇钟家河村,埋藏于丹江口库区汉江左岸第二级堆积阶地,遗址所在地三面环水,北靠低山。2010年10月-12月对该地点进行抢救性发掘,揭露面积近1500 m~2,出土石制品413件。石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片、断块断片和碎块碎片等。古人类利用河流砾石,就地取材加工石制品;硬锤锤击是主要剥片方法;石制品总体以小型居多,石器主要以石片为毛坯,边刮器为主要类型。石制品特点显示石片工业特点。石制品类型以石片类和断块类为主体,石制品拼合率近10%,是一处原地埋藏的古人类遗址。通过与丹江口库区相关旧石器遗址的比较,结合地貌地层特点,推测该遗址形成于旧石器时代晚期。     

井水湾旧石器遗址初步研究

井水湾遗址是三峡地区一处重要的旧石器时代遗址。遗址埋藏于长江右岸的第Ⅱ级基座阶地内,在1998—2002年间经历了5次系统发掘,揭露面积2121m2,出土石制品910件,动物化石58件。古人类因地制宜地选取河卵石为原料进行剥片和加工石器;石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片、石锤和断块等;剥片技术为锤击法;石器以大型和中型为主,石器毛坯多为完整石片,砍砸器和刮削器是石器的主要类型;石器加工较简单,多数单向加工,且以正向为主。石器工业具有中国南方旧石器时代主工业鲜明特点。环境分析显示古人类生活在温暖湿润的针叶、阔叶混交林-草原环境条件下。光释光年代测定表明,井水湾遗址使用者生活在距今约8万年前,属旧石器时代中期。     

Insights into early lithic technologies from ethnography

Oldowan lithic assemblages are often portrayed as a product of the need to obtain sharp flakes for cutting into animal carcases. However, ethnographic and experimental research indicates that the optimal way to produce flakes for such butchering purposes is via bipolar reduction of small cryptocrystalline pebbles rather than from larger crystalline cores resembling choppers. Ethnographic observations of stone tool-using hunter-gatherers in environments comparable with early hominins indicate that most stone tools (particularly chopper forms and flake tools) were used for making simple shaft tools including spears, digging sticks and throwing sticks. These tools bear strong resemblances to Oldowan stone tools. Bipolar reduction for butchering probably preceded chopper-like core reduction and provides a key link between primate nut-cracking technologies and the emergence of more sophisticated lithic technologies leading to the Oldowan.     

Out of Africa and back again

If the genusHomo did indeed originate in Africa, then it must have spread by about 2 m.y. ago into Asia where it is represented at 1.8 m.y. ago byHomo erectus fossils. This latter species in turn eventually spread back into Africa, as indicated by the 1.4 m.y. old OH 9 calvaria from Olduvai, and into Europe, as indicated by the 800,000 year old Ceprano calvaria from Italy. These hominids are associated only with Oldowan style artefacts of cores, choppers and flakes and were apparently not conversant with Acheulean handaxe technology. It seems that they most probably evolved viaHomo heidelbergensis into the Neanderthals. Meanwhile, a completely separate development originating withHomo ergaster of about 1.7 m.y. ago in Africa and possessing Acheulean handaxe technology evolved via such forms as Ndutu and Steinheim intoHomo sapiens.     

枣庄市山亭区旧石器地点调查简报

2016年夏在枣庄市山亭区的旧石器考古调查共发现新地点4处,分为两种堆积类型：一种为山前洪积褐土及其中的砂质条带(外峪子、马头、马窝地点),另一种系山前坡积棕黄色粉砂土(方山地点)。前三处地点(Waiyuzi, Matou, Mawo)属细石器传统,方山地点(FS)为使用砸击技术的小石器传统。调查共获得161件石制品,其中近1/3采自地层之中。类型包括石核/细石核、石片、石器、断块和残片;石料均采自附近山体中岩脉,主要是石英和燧石;4处地点均存在砸击技术,其中方山地点砸击技术表现尤为突出;石制品均以小型占绝大多数;石器包括刮削器、雕刻器和凹缺刮器,刮削器是主要类型。由地貌与地层对比可知,石制品埋藏于上更新统地层中,遗址时代大致为晚更新世晚期。     

延边地区和龙石人沟发现的旧石器

2004年5月初,在对延边和龙石人沟旧石器遗址的调查中,在山坡台地的黄色亚黏土和含黄色砂质土的角砾层内获得40件黑曜岩石制品,包括石核、石片、细石叶和使用石片、刮削器、雕刻器、琢背小刀等工具。遗址可能属于晚更新世的晚期,即旧石器时代晚期。     

丹江口北泰山庙旧石器遗址发掘简报

北泰山庙遗址位于汉水右岸第三级基座阶地。2006年11月—2007年1月对该遗址进行抢救性发掘, 揭露面积800m2, 出土石制品277件, 包括石核、石片、断块和石器。石器以大型为主, 砍砸器和刮削器为主要类型; 多采用锤击法加工石器。石制品面貌具有中国南方旧石器主工业的特点。根据地貌、地层和文化面貌对比, 推断遗址形成于中更新世早期。     

Hominin occupations at the Dmanisi site, Georgia, Southern Caucasus: raw materials and technical behaviours of Europe's first hominins

Dmanisi is the oldest site outside of Africa that records unquestioned hominin occupations as well as the dispersal of hominins in Europe and Asia. The site has yielded large numbers of artefacts from several periods of hominin occupation. This analysis of Dmanisi stone tool technology includes a review of all the pieces recovered during the last 15 years of excavations. This lithic assemblage gives insights into the hominin behaviour at 1.7-1.8 Ma in Eurasia. Dmanisi hominins exploited local rocks derived from either nearby riverbeds or outcrops, and petrographic study provides data on patterns of stone procurement. Recent geological surveys and technological studies of the artefacts illustrate the roles of hominins in composing the assemblage. Dmanisi hominins selected two types of blanks, including cobbles and angular blocks, of basalt, andesite, and tuffs. Many complete cobbles, pebbles, and rolled blocks in basalt were unmodified, and geological analyses and surveys indicate that hominins brought manuports back to the site, suggesting a complex procurement strategy. Cores, flakes and debris show that all stages of flaking activity took place at the site. Numerous unifacial cores suggest that knapping was not very elaborate. Centripetal knapping is observed on some flake-cores. Knapping was influenced by the blank shape and natural angles. Most flaked objects were either cores or chopper-cores. Flakes predominate while flake tools are rare. The Dmanisi lithic assemblage is comparable to Oldowan sites in Africa in terms of reduction sequence, organisation of the removals, platform types, and the lack of retouched flakes. Dmanisi artefacts and may have been produced by the original hominins in Europe and Asia.     

泥河湾盆地马梁遗址第10地点2016年出土石制品研究

马梁遗址地处泥河湾盆地东缘,发现于1983年,并于同年及2006、2008年分别进行小规模发掘,出土了少量石制品和动物化石。2016年,为建立该区域早-中更新世古人类演化的文化序列,河北省文物研究所对低于马梁遗址文化层约3m的马梁第10地点开展试掘,发掘面积18m2,出土石制品197件,动物化石1500余件。石制品原料以燧石、石英砂岩和白云岩为主;类型包括石核、石片、工具、砾石、岩块、断块和碎屑等。技术上,以硬锤锤击为主要打制技术,石核剥坯较为简单,未见修理台面,工具加工缺乏"精制品",表现出较为单一和简单化的石器工业面貌。     

宁夏水洞沟遗址第8地点发掘简报

水洞沟遗址第8地点是水洞沟遗址群的重要地点之一。2003年,对其进行正式发掘,揭露面积16m2,文化层内包含用火遗迹、石制品、哺乳动物化石及鸵鸟蛋皮串珠等。本文观察和研究的石制品七百余件,总体上显示中国北方地区石片石器工业的技术特征。根据该地点文化层的14C测年数据,该地点的年代为27,040±150 BP,经Int Cal09曲线校正后数据为31,323±101BP,与水洞沟第2地点的第2文化层年代(29.9ka~31.3ka BP)大致相当。     

The stone tools of capuchins (Cebus apella)

We examined the production of stone took by capuchins (Cebus apella). Eleven subjects used five reduction techniques to produce 346 stone tools (48 cores and 298 flakes). They produced a sharp edge on 83% of the cores and largest flakes. Three monkeys later used a sample of these objects as cutting tools. These results demonstrate that monkeys produce lithic tools analogous to those produced by Oldowan hominids.     

高家镇旧石器遗址1998年出土的石制品

高家镇遗址是三峡地区一处重要的旧石器时代遗址。遗址埋藏于长江右岸第Ⅲ级基座阶地内。1995年和1998年经过两次发掘,揭露面积456m2,出土石制品2500余件,其中1998年在B区发掘出土石制品719件。石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片和断块等。古人类选取河卵石为原料运用锤击法剥片和加工石器;石器以大型为主,毛坯多为石核和完整石片,砍砸器是石器的主要类型;石器加工较简单,多数单向加工。石器工业具有中国南方旧石器时代主工业鲜明特点。地貌和地层对比,显示该遗址可能与冉家路口遗址同时,处于中更新世晚期。     

天津蓟县太子陵旧石器地点调查简报

太子陵旧石器地点于2005年4月发现,2005年5月又对其进行了复查。该地点位于天津蓟县东北部孙各庄乡清太子陵东侧冲沟西面的黄土台地中,在其浅黄色粉砂质黏土层和地表发现石制品58件,包括石核、石片、断块和石器。古人类选择地点附近的阶地底部河卵石为原料进行剥片和加工石器;硬锤锤击法为剥片的主要技术;石制品总体以小型和微型居多;石器主要以石片为毛坯,刮削器是主要类型;石器多由古人类在石片的一侧采用锤击法正向加工而成。地貌与地层对比则显示遗址的时代大致属于晚更新世晚期之末或全新世早期。     

百色盆地高岭坡遗址的石制品

高岭坡旧石器遗址位于百色市田东县境内的林逢镇檀河村,文化层为右江南岸第4级阶地的砖红壤层。本文材料为1986~1995年发掘和采集的、由中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所收藏的834件石制品。石制品类型有石核、石片、工具、备料和断块;石片和断块占较大比例;工具既有手斧、手镐和砍砸器等重型工具,也有刮削器、凹缺器、石锥和鸟喙状器等轻型工具。两个类群在原料和毛坯选择上有明显差异。工具均采用锤击法,主要从较平的一面向较凸的另一面进行单向加工,辅以交互和错向加工。拼合石片以及大量细小石片、断块等的存在显示,该遗址为一处石器制造场所。     

Adaptive Flexibility of Oldowan Hominins: Secondary Use of Flakes at Bizat Ruhama,Israel

The lithic assemblage of the Early Pleistocene site of Bizat Ruhama, Israel demonstrates the earliest evidence for systematic secondary knapping of flakes. The site, dated to the Matuyama chron, is one of the earliest primary context Oldowan occurrences in Eurasia. According to the experimental replication of the stone-tool production sequence, the secondary knapping of flakes was a part of a multi-stage operational sequence targeted at the production of small (<2 cm) flakes. This sequence included four stages: acquisition of chert pebbles, production of flakes, deliberate selection of flakes of specific morphologies, and their secondary knapping by free-hand or bipolar methods. The results suggest that flakes with retouch-like scars that were produced during this sequence and which commonly are interpreted as shaped tools are unintentional waste products of the small flake production. The intentional manufacture of very small flakes at Bizat Ruhama was probably an economic response to the raw material constrains. Systematic secondary knapping of flakes has not yet been reported from other Early Pleistocene sites. Systematic secondary knapping for small flake production became increasingly important only in the lithic industries of the second half of the Middle Pleistocene, almost a million years later. The results from Bizat Ruhama indicate that Oldowan stone-tool production sequence was conceptually more complex than previously suggested and offer a new perspective on the capabilities for invention and the adaptive flexibility of the Oldowan hominins.     

山西青磁窑遗址发现的新材料

青磁窑遗址是山西重要的旧石器时代早期遗址之一。1976—1977年经过两次发掘,发表了初步研究报告。1984年和1987年,再次在遗址中发现了53件石制品,类型包括石核、石片和石器;石片占多数,其中有疤台面和修理台面石片是该遗址中以前未发现过的,从而丰富了青磁窑遗址的文化内涵。     

天津蓟县东营坊遗址出土的石制品

东营坊遗址位于天津蓟县境内。2007年,对该遗址进行抢救性发掘,发掘面积200m2,出土石制品90件。石制品原料系就地取材于遗址附近的河床或基岩;石制品类型包括石核、石片、石器和断块;剥片采用锤击法;石器以小型为主,包括刮削器和雕刻器,由硬锤直接加工而成,方向以正向居多。根据文化层底部哺乳动物化石的测年结果,遗址年代为旧石器时代中晚期过渡阶段或旧石器时代晚期早段。