Recent advances in Early Stone Age studies in Africa, new insights on the Oldowan and the Acheulian stone technology

Abstract

Over the past two decades, great advances have been made in illuminating the timing and behavioral implications of the Early Stone Age of Africa. Although controversial, claims have been made from East Africa for much earlier beginnings of hominin use of stones for functions yet to be understood. Based on “humanly modified” stones in Kenya, and fossil bones from Ethiopia, both recovered in deposits dated to ~3.3 Ma, researchers have made claims for use of stones at such early age. Extensive and systematic studies in North Africa have pushed the beginnings of stone artifacts (2.2 Ma) much earlier than previously known, making great advances in our knowledge of the earliest artifacts in this part of the continent. Further advances include the timing for the appearance of the Acheulian, a new technology that made debut in the archaeological record ~1.75 Ma. Compared to the 3.3 Ma archaeological materials, there seem to be a consensus in the field about the timing for the Acheulian, though much information is still needed in terms of our understanding of the behavioral changes in the huge temporal span of this stone technology. Investigations in North Africa are closing in the temporal gap with East Africa in terms of early hominin use of stone artifacts, but much research is still needed regarding the beginnings of the Acheulian technology in North Africa.