Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lower Palaeolithic Transitions in the Northern Latitudes of Eurasia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions

Abstract

The northern latitudes of Eurasia were inhabited temporarily, during favorable, warmer periods since 1 Ma ago with a considerable transition from Mode 1 (Oldowan) or Mode 2 (Acheulean) to microlithic technology and introducing new and more effective composite tools. Until recent years, archaeologists believed that such technology occurred almost exclusively during the Mesolithic and Late Palaeolithic (Mode 5), in the form of small stone inserts held by wooden or bone hafts, producing composite tools. A significant spatial, chronological and ecological variability of Lower Palaeolithic microlithic assemblages suggests that they developed as a result of the adaptation to local environment, possibly temperate and wooded, in different areas from North-Eastern China to Northern Europe, parallel to Mode 1 and Mode 2 in southern and western part of Eurasia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bar-Yosef, O., 1987, Pleistocene connections between Africa and Southwest Asia: An archaeological perspective. The African Archaeological Review 5:29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Yosef, O., 1998, Early colonizations and cultural continuities in the Lower Palaeolithic of western Asia. In Early Human Behaviour in Global Context, edited by M.D. Petraglia and R. Korisettar, pp. 221–279. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beinhauer, K.W., Fiedler, L., and Wegner D., 1992, Hornstein-Artefakte von der Fundstelle des Homo erectus heidelbergensis aus Mauer. In Schichten von Mauer – 85 Jahre Homo erectus heidelbergensis, edited K.W. Beinhauer and G.A. Wagner, pp. 46–73. Edition Braus, Meinheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordes, F., 1968, The Old Stone Age. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brühl, E., 2003, The small flint tool industry from Bilzingsleben – Steinrinne. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 65–92. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdukiewicz, J.M., 2003a, Lower Palaeolithic sites with small artefacts in Poland. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 65–92. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdukiewicz, J.M., 2003b, Technokompleks mikrolityczny w paleolicie dolnym srodkowej Europy. Instytut Archeologii Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wroclaw (in Polish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdukiewicz, J.M., 2006, Lithic artifacts – Typology, technology and morphometrics. In The Stone: Technique and Technology, edited by A. Wisniewski, T. Plonka and J.M. Burdukiewicz, pp. 11–19. Uniwersytet Wroclawski, Instytut Archeologii, Wroclaw.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdukiewicz, J.M. and Ronen A., 2000, Ruhama in the Northern Negev Desert. A new microlithic site of Lower Palaeolithic in Israel. Praehistoria Thuringica 5:32–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdukiewicz, J.M. and Ronen A., 2003, Research problems of the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic small tool assemblages. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 235–239. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carbonell, E., Mosquera, M., Olle, A., Rodriguez, X.P., Sahnouni, M., Sala, R., and Verg ès J.M., 2001, Structure morphotechnique de l ’industrie lithique du Pl éistoc ène inf érieur et moyen d ’Atapuerca (Burgos, Espagne). L ’Anthropologie (Paris) 105:259–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattani, L., Cremaschi, M., Ferraris, M.R., Mallegni, F., Masini, F., Scola, V., and Tozzi C., 1991, Le gisement du Pléistocène moyen de Visogliano (Trieste): restes humains, industries, environnement. L’Anthropologie (Paris) 91:9–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan, P.R., 2004, A review of the early Acheulian evidence from South Asia. Assemblage – The Sheffield Graduate Journal of Archaeology December 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, D.L., 1968, Analytical Archaeology. Methuen & Co Ltd., London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cremaschi, M. and Perreto C., 1988, Les sols d’habitat du site paléolithique d’Isernia La Pineta (Molise, Italie centrale). L’Anthropologie (Paris) 93:1017–1040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crovetto, C., 1991, Résultats préliminaires de la comparaison des industries d’Isernia La Pineta et de Venosa-Loreto. In Isernia La Pineta. Nuovi contributi scientifici, edited by C. Peretto, pp. 79–95. Instituto Regionale per gli Studi Storici del Molise, V. Cuoco, Isernia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, I. and Noble W., 1993, Tools and Language in Human Evolution. In Tools, Language and Cognition, edited by K. Gibson and T. Ingold, pp. 363–388. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Torre, I. and Mora R., 2005, Technological strategies in the Lower Pleistocene at Olduvai Beds I & II. Études et Recherches Archéologiques de l’Université de Liège 112, Liège.

    Google Scholar 

  • Debenath, A. and Dibble H.L., 1994, Handbook of Paleolithic Typology: Lower and Middle Paleolithic of Europe. University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derevianko, A.P., Petrin V.T., and Taimagambetov J.K., 2000, The phenomenon of microindustrial complexes in Eurasia. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 4:2–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez-Rodrigo, M., Serrallonga, J., Juan-Tresserras, J., Alcala, L., and Luque L., 2001, Woodworking activities by early humans: a plant residue analysis on Acheulian stone tools from Peninj (Tanzania). Journal of Human Evolution 40:289–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goren-Inbar, N. and Saragusti I., 1996, An Acheulian biface assemblage from the site of Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, Israel: indications of African affinities. Journal of Field Archaeology 23:15–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou, Y.M., Potts, R., Yuan B.Y., Guo, Z.T., Deino, A., Wang, W., Clark, J., Xie, G.M., and Huang W.W., 2000, Mid-Pleistocene Acheulean-like stone technology of the Bose Basin, South China. Science 287:1622–1626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keates, S.G., 2003, The role of raw material in explaining tool assemblage variability in Palaeolithic China. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 149–168. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kretzoi, M. and Dobosi, V.T., (eds.) 1990, Vértesszőlős, Site, Man and Culture. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mania, D. and Mania U., 2003, Bilzingsleben – Homo erectus, his culture and his environment. The most important results of research. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 65–92. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNabb, J., Binyon, F., and Hazelwood L., 2004, The large cutting tools from the South African Acheulean and the question of social traditions. Current Anthropology 45:653–677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherron, S., 2000, Handaxes as a measure of the mental capabilities of early hominids. Journal of Archaeological Science 27:655–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paddayya, K., Blackwell, B.A.B., Jhaldiyal, R., Petraglia, M.D., Fevrier, S., Chaderton, II D.A., Blickstein, J.I.B., and Skinner A.R., 2002, Recent findings on the Acheulian of the Hunsgi and Baichabl valleys, Karnataka, with special reference to the Isampur excavation and its dating. Current Science (Bangalore), 83/5:641–647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt, S.A., et al. 2005, The earliest record of human activity in northern Europe. Nature 438:1008–1012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peretto, C., (ed.), 1994, Le industrie litiche del giacimento paleolitico di Isernia La Pineta: LA tipologia, le tracce di utilizzazione, la seprimentazione. Cosmo Iannone Editore, Isernia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peretto, C., La Rossa, M., Liboni, A., Milliken, S., Sozzi, M., and Zaratini A., 1997, Le gisement de Quarto delle Cinfonare dans le cadre du Paléolithique inférieur de l’Italie Ouest-Centrale. L’Anthropologie (Paris) 101:597–615.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piperno, M., (ed.), 1999, Notarchirico, un sito del Pleistocene medio antico nel bacino di Venosa. Osanna, Venosa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, T., Ferraro, J., Ditchfield, P., Bishop, L., and Potts R., 2001. Late Pliocene Oldowan excavations at Kanjera South, Kenya. Antiquity 75:809–810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranov, V.A. and Dodonov A.E., 2003, Small instruments of the Lower Palaeolithic site Kuldara and their geoarchaeological meaning. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 133–147. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roche, H., Delagnes, A., Burgal, J.P., Feibel, C., Kibunjia, M., Mourre, V., and Texler P.J., 1999, Early hominid stone tool production and technical skill 2.34 Myr ago in West Turkana, Kenya. Science 399:57–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roebroeks, W., 2005, Archaeology: Life on the Costa del Cromer. Nature 428:921–922.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roebroeks, W. and van Kolfschoten T., 1995, The earliest occupation of Europe: A reappraisal of artefactual and chronological evidence. In The Earliest Occupation of Europe. Proceedings of the European Science Foundation. Workshop at Tautavel (France), 1993, edited by W. Roebroeks and T. van Kolfshoten, pp. 297–315. University of Leiden, Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronen, A., 2003, The small tools of Evron-Quarry, Western Galilee, Israel. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 113–120. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronen, A., Burdukiewicz, J.M., Laukhin, S.A., Winter, Y., Tsatskin, A., Dayan, T., Kulikov, O.A., Vlasov, V.K., and Semenov V.V., 1998, The Lower Palaeolithic site Bizat Ruhama in the Northern Negev, Israel. Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 28:163–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schild, R., 1980, Introduction to dynamic technological analysis of chipped stone assemblages. In Unconventional Archaeology. New Approaches and Goals in Polish Archaeology, edited by R. Schild, pp. 57–85. Ossolineum, Wroclaw.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semaw, S., Rogers, M.J., Quade, J., Renne, P.R., Butler, R.F., Dominguez-Rodrigo, M., Stout, D., Hart, W.S., Pickering, T., and Simpson S.W., 2003, 2.6-Million-year-old stone tools and associated bones from OGS-6 and OGS-7, Gona, Afar, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution 45:169–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stout, D., Quade, J., Semaw, S., Rogers, M.J. and Levin N.E., 2005, Raw material selectivity of the earliest stone toolmakers at Gona, Afar, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution 48:365–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thieme, H., 2003, Lower Palaeolithic sites at Schöningen, Lower Saxony, Germany. In Lower Palaeolithic Small Tools in Europe and the Levant, edited by J.M. Burdukiewicz and A. Ronen, pp. 101–111. BAR International Series 1115, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban, B., 1992, Die Rolle der Quartärbotanik und ihre Bedeutung für die Fundstelle des Homo erectus heidelbergensis von Mauer. In Schichten von Mauer – 85 Jahre Homo erectus heidelbergensis, edited by K.W. Beinhauer and G.A. Wagner, pp. 111–120. Edition Braus, Meinheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vekua, A., Lordkipanidze, D., Rightmire, G.P., Reid Ferring, J.A., Maisuradze, G., Mouskhelishvili, A., Nioradze, M., de Leon, M.P., Tappen, M., Tvalchrelidze, M., and Zollikofer C., 2002, A new skull of early Homo from Dmanisi, Georgia. Science 297:85–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vértes, L., 1965, Typology of the Buda Industry, a pebble-tool industry from Hungarian Lower Palaeolithic. Quaternaria 7:185–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynn, T., 2004, Comment on “The large cutting tools from the South African Acheulean and the question of social traditions.” Current Anthropology 45:672–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynn, T. and Tierson F., 1990, Regional comparison of the shapes of later Acheulean handaxes. American Anthropologist 92:73–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaidner, Y., Ronen, A., and Burdukiewicz J.M., 2003, La microindustrie du Paléolithique ancien de Bizat Ruhama, Israel. L’Anthropologie (Paris) 105:203–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, C., Liu, Z., and Wang Y., 2000, Climatic cycles investigated by sediment analysis in Peking Man’s Cave, Zhoukoudian, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 27:101–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Archaeology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland

    Jan Michal Burdukiewicz

Authors
  1. Jan Michal Burdukiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan Michal Burdukiewicz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Anthropology, George Washington University, G Street NW., 2110, Washington, 20052, U.S.A.

    Marta Camps

  2. CRAFT Stone Age Institute, Indiana University, W. Dittemore Road 1392, Gosport, 47433-9531, U.S.A.

    Parth Chauhan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Burdukiewicz, J.M. (2009). Lower Palaeolithic Transitions in the Northern Latitudes of Eurasia. In: Camps, M., Chauhan, P. (eds) Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76487-0_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation