100th century BCE
Eastern and southern Africa
Early African stone-tool associations comprise archaeological occurrences linked to hominid fossils and occupational residues during the early Pleistocene. The extract highlights Shungura, Koobi Fora, Olduvai Gorge, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and the Chemoigut Formation, where Oldowan, Developed Oldowan, Karari, and early Acheulian assemblages occur in varied environmental and depositional settings. These remains provide the principal direct evidence for early hominid behavior, tool production, carcass processing, and habitat use.
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The Story
The extract treats cultural associations and occupational residues as the only direct evidence available for reconstructing early hominid behavior and adaptation. The first substantial and widespread evidence for stone-tool production and localized occupational residues is placed at about two million years ago. In many occurrences, at least two and possibly three hominid species were present in the broader geological context, although direct fossil-tool associations are often lacking.
At Shungura, artifacts occur in stream-channel settings within deposits dated to 2.04 million years, with additional derived artifacts in lower Member G at 1.9 million years. Koobi Fora preserves channel-associated occurrences dated from 1.8 to 1.6 million years, including probable camps and a possible hippopotamus butchery site. Olduvai offers the longest and richest sequence, while the Karari Industry of the Koobi Fora Upper Member records at least fifty sites with varied tools and bone debris.
The industries differ in composition and technological emphasis. Oldowan assemblages are generally characterized by flakes, flaking debris, few shaped tools, and limited raw-material variety; the Developed Oldowan adds more tool types, new shaped implements, and greater diversification. The Karari Industry shares some features with the Developed Oldowan but also displays distinctive tool forms and substantial assemblage diversity. The early Acheulian appears in eastern Africa slightly later than the earliest Oldowan-related occurrences, but its association with Homo erectus is described as insufficiently secure.
100th century BCE
Eastern and southern Africa
Early African stone-tool associations comprise archaeological occurrences linked to hominid fossils and occupational residues during the early Pleistocene. The extract highlights Shungura, Koobi Fora, Olduvai Gorge, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and the Chemoigut Formation, where Oldowan, Developed Oldowan, Karari, and early Acheulian assemblages occur in varied environmental and depositional settings. These remains provide the principal direct evidence for early hominid behavior, tool production, carcass processing, and habitat use.
Continue exploring
The Story
The extract treats cultural associations and occupational residues as the only direct evidence available for reconstructing early hominid behavior and adaptation. The first substantial and widespread evidence for stone-tool production and localized occupational residues is placed at about two million years ago. In many occurrences, at least two and possibly three hominid species were present in the broader geological context, although direct fossil-tool associations are often lacking.
At Shungura, artifacts occur in stream-channel settings within deposits dated to 2.04 million years, with additional derived artifacts in lower Member G at 1.9 million years. Koobi Fora preserves channel-associated occurrences dated from 1.8 to 1.6 million years, including probable camps and a possible hippopotamus butchery site. Olduvai offers the longest and richest sequence, while the Karari Industry of the Koobi Fora Upper Member records at least fifty sites with varied tools and bone debris.
The industries differ in composition and technological emphasis. Oldowan assemblages are generally characterized by flakes, flaking debris, few shaped tools, and limited raw-material variety; the Developed Oldowan adds more tool types, new shaped implements, and greater diversification. The Karari Industry shares some features with the Developed Oldowan but also displays distinctive tool forms and substantial assemblage diversity. The early Acheulian appears in eastern Africa slightly later than the earliest Oldowan-related occurrences, but its association with Homo erectus is described as insufficiently secure.
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