Acheuléen

The term Acheuléen indicates at the same time a period of the Paléolithique inferior and the lithic Industrie characteristic of this period.

Acheuléen owes its name with the site éponyme of Saint-Acheul, near to Amiens (France), where it was described for the first time by G. of Mortillet in 1872.

Acheuléen succeeds the Oldowayen in East Africa starting from approximately 1,7 million years before the present, in the sites of Olduvai (Tanzania) or on banks of the Lac Turkana (Kenya). It is spread then in all the African continent. The sites of this time are extremely numerous but one can retain the names of Olorgesailie, Kilombe, Isenya (Kenya), Melka Kunture, Gadeb (Ethiopia), Kamoa (Democratic republic of Congo), Tighennif, and Tabelbala-Tachenghit (Algérie). Acheuléen reaches then the the Middle East, the Asia and the Europe.

In Europe, Acheuléen succeeds the Chelléen (or Abbevillien) and lasts approximately of 500 000 with 300 000 years before the present.

The tools characteristic of Acheuléen are the Biface S, the Hachereau X and the bolas. They are often associated with small tools improved on glares.

The type of Hominidé having produced these tools is not known with certainty. For the old phases in Africa, it can be a question of Paranthropus robustus , of Homo ergaster or of Homo erectus . For the recent phases in Eurasia, it is probably about Homo erectus .

In certain areas, Acheuléen comprises a final stage indicated under the name of Micoquien, in others the passage of Acheuléen to the Paléolithique means is more or less progressive: disappearance of double-side, generalization of the Cutting up Levallois, development and standardization of the tools on glare, etc

This period is marked by a major discovery, the domestication of the Feu: it also is to be put in the active Homo erectus and it is attested starting from approximately 400 000 years before the present, in particular in the sites of Terra Amata, Carry out-Dregan (France), Bilzingsleben (Germany) or Vértesszőlős (Hungary).

synoptic Table of the principal prehistoric cultures of the Old World

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Acheuléen

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