The large lithic assemblage of Gombore I, level B (Melka Kunture, Ethiopia) and the early Acheulean technology in East Africa

Abstract

The emergence of the Acheulean is a central topic in human evolution research. Current data suggest that this process began around 2.0 million years ago in the upper Awash River basin, specifically on the Ethiopian plateau, in the region of Melka Kunture. There are so far few known sites of the early stages of development of this technocomplex, most of which are restricted to East Africa. Although some of the major milestones in Acheulean stone tool innovations are reasonably well understood, detailed information on the technological characteristics of these early assemblages remains sparse. Most of the evidence is surface materials collected in small numbers. The site of Gombore I Level B (Melka Kunture, Ethiopia) is one of the few Early Acheulean sites that has been extensively excavated and retains a substantial collection of stone tools. Analysis of the record reveals that they retain many features typical of the Oldowan technology, such as the extensive use of core-and-flake methods. However, they also exhibit decisive innovations that extend beyond the production of large flakes or the shaping of handaxes. Among these are the spatial segmentation of operational sequences, the increased complexity in the selection of raw materials and the retouching of tools, as well as the emergence of complex flake production systems, such as the Kombewa and Prepared Core Technology.