Spheroids and battered stones in the African Early Stone Age

Bibliographic Data

ID3918703
AuthorsPamela R Willoughby (0000-0003-3374-8499, University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author)
Year1985
Volume17
Issue1
Pages44-60
Publication date1985-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.1985.9979949
OpenAlexW1974222617
LanguageEN
Citations received37
References cited24

Spheroids and battered stones form an integral part of the Acheulean and coeval Developed Oldowan at most African Early Stone Age sites. This was recognized early in the development of prehistoric research on the continent. Their absence from assemblages in the Koobi Fora region east of Lake Turkana is therefore unexpected. A study of the distribution and technology of these pieces was undertaken in an attempt to explain this anomaly. Flaked core artefacts from seven Early Stone Age sites were examined. It was discovered that in the class of pounded and battered artefacts, the raw material selected influenced the final form to a great extent. While there is no real standardization of size, the shape of pieces is constant, regardless of raw material, location or age of the site. Most flaked spheroids represent the extreme end of a range of core tools running from angular to smooth. Their shape is produced by a combination of manufacture and/or use. In addition, natural spherical stones produced by a series of geological processes were also collected and transported into early hominid sites

Acheulean · Archaeology · Experimental archaeology · Geography · Middle Stone Age · Natural (archaeology · Paleoanthropology · Pleistocene · Prehistory · Stone Age · Stone tool · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Geology · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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