Technical evolution in Gran Dolina TD10 (Atapuerca, Spain) and Orgnac 3 (Ardèche, France) and the transition from Acheulean to Mousterian in Western Europe

Abstract

The origin of Levallois stone knapping method has been one of the main points of discussion since it’s discovery, in the second half of the 19th century. This paper discusses the development of hierarchical and predetermined strategies in two Western European assemblages around 300/350ky. The aim of this paper is to analyze the development of the hierarchical cores in two paradigmatic European lithic assemblages: level Gran Dolina TD10 (Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) and levels 7, 4b and 1, from Orgnac 3 (Ardèche, France). We have selected these two sites, traditionally included inside the transition from Acheulean period to Mousterian, to compare the knapping methods and the presence of hierarchical strategies; we also compare the presence of both predetermination and standardization in these two sites located in the 300.000 B.P frontier.