Li Hao, Kuman Kathleen, Lotter Matt G, Leader George M, Gibbon Ryan J
Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, People's Republic of China.
School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg WITS 2050, South Africa.
R Soc Open Sci. 2017 Jun 28;4(6):170288. doi: 10.1098/rsos.170288. eCollection 2017 Jun.
Prepared 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 1 Ma (million years ago) for these cores. Technological analysis shows that the Victoria West 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.
预制石核技术体现了在石核修整过程中的深入规划以及心智模板的存在。因此，这项技术是研究抽象思维演变和原始人类认知能力的一项重要指标。在此，我们报告了从南非中部食堂山遗址发掘出的维多利亚西石核，初步估计这些石核的年代约为100万年前。技术分析表明，维多利亚西石核与为勒瓦娄哇技术所定义的“体积概念”有相似之处，勒瓦娄哇技术是一种至少从20万年前起就流行且分布广泛的预制石核技术。尽管存在这些相似之处，但也有一些显著差异，使得维多利亚西石核成为一种独特且与众不同的预制石核技术；这些差异包括：石核形状细长且向心，去除石片时打击方向一致，大量侧击石片占主导地位，以及利用这些石片制作阿舍利大型切割工具。食堂山这种创新的石核修整策略将预制石核技术的根源延伸到了阿舍利早期的后期，并清楚地表明了这一时期原始人类认知能力和复杂性的提升。
