@mapaslab.bsky.social @uvigo.bsky.social

This study enriches our understanding of early Acheulean technology, showing that large flake production and complex planning appeared earlier than thought.
Check out the full paper here: link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007...

Simbiro’s finds challenge previous ideas that complex large flake production emerged later. By 1.2 Ma, hominins here were already mastering large cores and predetermined flake production. 🧠💪

The study found evidence of Victoria West-like techniques, where flaking patterns on the core ensured the production of standardised, usable flakes. This is an early example, predating similar finds in South Africa.

Cleavers-on-flake at Simbiro were made from large flakes with minimal reshaping, indicating that flakes were often predetermined during core reduction. 🪨➡️🔪

Why large flakes? 🪓
They provided blanks for shaping complex tools. Simbiro’s core produced many large flakes, suggesting careful planning and skillful knapping.

Simbiro Gully offers rare insights with many cleavers-on-flakes and a huge basalt core (360 mm long, 16 kg!). This core shows complex flaking strategies, far more advanced than typical early Acheulean examples.

The Acheulean (from ~1.95 Ma) is famous for large cutting tools (LCTs) like handaxes and cleavers. But producing large flakes was a key innovation, requiring strength, skill, and organised techniques.