The Victoria west: Earliest prepared core technology in the acheulean at canteen kopje and implications for the cognitive evolution of early hominids

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dc.citation.doi10.1098/rsos.170288en_ZA
dc.citation.issue6en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLi, H.
dc.contributor.authorKuman, K.
dc.contributor.authorLotter, M.G.
dc.contributor.authorLeader, G.M.
dc.contributor.authorGibbon, R.J.
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-06T13:08:32Z
dc.date.available2017-11-06T13:08:32Z
dc.date.issued2017-06
dc.description.abstractPrepared core technology illustrates in-depth planning and the presence of a mental template during the core reduction process. This technology is, therefore, a significant indicator in studying the evolution of abstract thought and the cognitive abilities of hominids. Here, we report on Victoria West cores excavated from the Canteen Kopje site in central South Africa, with a preliminary age estimate of approximately 1Ma (million years ago) for these cores. Technological analysis shows that the VictoriaWest cores bear similarities to the ‘Volumetric Concept’ as defined for the Levallois, a popular and widely distributed prepared core technology from at least 200 ka (thousand years ago). Although these similarities are present, several notable differences also occur that make the Victoria West a unique and distinctive prepared core technology; these are: elongated and convergent core shapes, consistent blow directions for flake removal, a predominance of large side-struck flakes, and the use of these flakes to make Acheulean large cutting tools. This innovative core reduction strategy at Canteen Kopje extends the roots of prepared core technology to the latter part of the Early Acheulean and clearly demonstrates an increase in the cognitive abilities and complexities of hominids in this time period.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianEM2017en_ZA
dc.funderChinese Academy of Sciences Pioneer Hundred Talents Program, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Priority Research Program (no. XDPB05) and by a grant in the China-South Africa Bilateral Programme in Palaeolithic Archaeology to K.K. (National Research Foundation of South Africa, grant no. 88480).en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLi, H. et al. 2017. The Victoria west: Earliest prepared core technology in the acheulean at canteen kopje and implications for the cognitive evolution of early hominids. Royal Society Open Science 4 (6), Article number 170288.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2054-5703
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/23386
dc.journal.titleRoyal Society Open Scienceen_ZA
dc.journal.volume4en_ZA
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherRoyal Societyen_ZA
dc.rights© 2017 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.subjectCognitive evolutionen_ZA
dc.subjectEarly Acheuleanen_ZA
dc.subjectLevalloisen_ZA
dc.subjectPrepared core technologyen_ZA
dc.subjectVictoria Westen_ZA
dc.subjectNORTHERN CAPE PROVINCEen_ZA
dc.subjectGESHER-BENOT-YAAQOVen_ZA
dc.subjectSOUTH-AFRICAen_ZA
dc.subjectSTONE-AGEen_ZA
dc.subjectSOCIAL BRAINen_ZA
dc.subjectMIDDLEen_ZA
dc.subjectARCHAEOLOGYen_ZA
dc.subjectORIGINSen_ZA
dc.subjectISRAELen_ZA
dc.subjectKONSOen_ZA
dc.titleThe Victoria west: Earliest prepared core technology in the acheulean at canteen kopje and implications for the cognitive evolution of early hominidsen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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