The Oldowayen is one period of the Paléolithique inferior characterized by a lithic Industrie not very elaborate.

History and definition

Oldowayen owes its name with the vast complex of archeological sites and fossiliferous of the Gorges of Olduvai in Tanzania, where she was recognized and defined by Louis and Mary Leakey.

In the beginning, the term indicated only the industries ranging between 1,8 and 1,6 million years before the present in East Africa. Sometimes by extension and a little improperly, it indicates from now on all industries former to the Acheuléen, even out of Africa. In the case of Europe, one employs also sometimes the term of Abbevillien to indicate coarse industries with Biface S former to the Acheuléen.

Features

Traditionally, Oldowayen is regarded as an industry “with cut rollers”: the craftsman takes a block that it quickly works out of tool by removing glares on a face ( Chopper ) or on two faces ( chopping-tool ). This vision tends to be moderate insofar as it is not clearly established that the glares were the required by-products and not elements. The “ choppers ” oldowayens could be in fact of the very simple Nucléus.

The craftsman of Oldowayen

The human remainders associated with Oldowayen of East Africa are those of Paranthropus boisei and of Homo habilis , but it is not possible to determine which of both Taxon S is at the origin of industry.

Advanced Oldowayen

Mr. Leakey and some other researchers employed the expression Developed Oldowan , or advanced Oldowayen , to indicate whole lithic of East Africa contemporaries of the Acheuléen, but comprising few Biface S. These units would have been carried out by groups with the traditions distinct from the acheuléens groups. The point of view which consists in seeing in the differences between Acheuléen and Oldowayen developed the expression in distinct functions of sites is however more widespread.

Related articles

• synoptic Table of the principal prehistoric cultures of the Old World

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