Dedicated core-on-anvil production of bladelet-like flakes in the Acheulean at Thomas Quarry I - L1 (Casablanca, Morocco)

Abstract

The ability to produce large cutting tools (LCTs) is considered as the technological marker of the Acheulean and the indicator of a greater technological complexity compared to the previous Oldowan. Although Acheulean techno-complexes are also composed of a concurrent core-and-flake technology, the iconic handaxes have attracted more attention than any other lithic component. Consequently, little is known of the small and medium-sized flake productions (small flaking), especially starting from 1 Ma, when handaxe and cleaver manufacture becomes intensive and widespread across Africa, including the Atlantic coastal regions of Morocco. Research at Thomas Quarry I yielded a rich early Acheulean lithic assemblage, mainly composed of quartzite LCTs and small flaking, together with a small-sized flint production. Here, we report a particular aspect of this flint assemblage, i.e. a flint bladelet-like flake production. This process represents a discrete technical behaviour among those related to small flaking both in quartzite and flint: pebbles were flaked using the bipolar-on-anvil technique repeatedly employing a specific method to produce bladelet-like flakes. This production represents the oldest dated occurrence of bladelet-like technology in Africa and reveals technical competencies hitherto unknown for these periods, providing further elements for the techno-economic diversification of the African Acheulean. Large shaped tools (length or width ≥ 10 cm), made on large flakes, cobbles, or tabular clast blanks, are the hallmark of the African Acheulean from its emergence at ~1.8 Ma and for the subsequent 1.5 million years 1-22. From the first definition of the term Acheulean 23 , although the techno-complexes are also composed of a concurrent core-and-flake technology, only handaxes and cleavers were used for grouping together different lithic assemblages scattered over space and time under this label 18,19,24. Their degree of refinement was adopted as a parameter for defining Acheulean technological development and variability 1,2,5,6,14 and the ability to shape macro-tools was equated to a more complex behaviour than the Oldowan core-and-flake based technology 22,25,26. In recent years, research focused on small-medium sized flake productions in the early East African Acheulean has modified previously established paradigms identifying the main innovations that distinguish the early Acheulean from the Oldowan technology, partially superseding the handaxe focus in Acheulean studies 8,11,15,17,27-32. Unfortunately, the study of large tools clearly overshadows occurrences of smaller artefacts among African late Early/early Middle Pleistocene Acheulean assemblages. Little is known of these tool kits, when macro-tool productions become intensive and standardized 19 , and the relevance of the small flaking to hominin behavioural variability remains to be investigated.

Frontiers of the Lower Palaeolithic expansion in Europe: Tunel Wielki Cave (Poland)

“…The other interesting issue is the suggested dominance of the bipolar-on-anvil knapping mode in Tunel Wielki Cave. This knapping mode is the simplest one, recognized already in the Oldowan assemblages, and is traditionally ascribed to Mode 1 technology [101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109] . In European sites, the bipolar-on-anvil technique prevails at the earliest Lower Palaeolithic sites, e.g.…”

A marine isotope stage 11 coastal Acheulian workshop with associated wood at Amanzi Springs Area 1, South Africa

“…In general, the Area 1 lithic materials do not match characteristic technological trends of the later Acheulian. With respect to the small debitage component, Area 1 lacks any MSA-like tools including blades and points, and contains a small proportion of prepared cores, which are common elements amongst other Late Acheulian and so-called Fauresmith localities [ 160 , 162 ]. Instead Area 1 is typified by unifacial and bifacial cores and a small collection of retouched tools.…”

First high resolution chronostratigraphy for the early North African Acheulean at Casablanca (Morocco)

“…However, flint production at ThI-L1 shows evidence of one specific technical process, that of bipolar-on-anvil semi-peripheral exploitation to produce bladelet-like flakes. This technical process was hitherto unknown for periods in question and demonstrates the diversification and the flexibility within the African Acheulean 20 .…”