Searching for hidden activities: Percussive tools from the Oldowan and Acheulean of West Turkana, Kenya (2.3–1.76 Ma)

摘要: Abstract Over the last thirty years, investigations in Nachukui Formation (West Turkana, Kenya) have revealed importance of region for human evolution studies within an archaeological sequence spanning period 3.3 million years (Ma) to 0.7 Ma. Despite numerous sites discovered, little is known about pounding activities during this time region. In paper, we present analysis percussive tools from three West Turkana sites: Lokalalei 2C, Kokiselei 1 and 4, dated between 2.3 Ma 1.76 Ma. Their chronological range allows us conduct a diachronic comparison span with two hominin genera (Australopithecus boisei, early Homo erectus). The assemblages are compared others Early Stone Age experimental tools. stable predominance hammerstones associated stone knapping over Formation, our macro- microscopic analyses reveal inter-site variability type re-use specific heavy-duty activities. When other sites, 4 similarly low frequency but high number blanks used both flaking activities, suggesting that reutilization change their functionality was common ESA lithic record.