Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (02): 194-207.doi: 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0043

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A pilot analysis of the classification method of cores in the early Paleolithic

LI Sanling1, LI Hao2,3()   

  1. 1. School of History, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
    2. Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    3. CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing 100044
  • Received:2019-04-14 Revised:2019-07-10 Online:2021-04-15 Published:2021-04-13
  • Contact: LI Hao E-mail:lihao@ivpp.ac.cn

Abstract:

As an important type of stone products, core plays an important role in revealing the utilization degree of raw materials, technological development sequence and cognitive ability of early humans. With regard to the typological classifications of cores in the Early Paleolithic, Chinese scholars usually take account to the platform numbers as a key criterion. However,this classification method neglects the technological diversity during the process of core flaking, and thus hinders a deep understanding of the lithic technology and related cognitive abilities of early humans. Currently, various core classification methods have been employed by our international colleagues. Among these, the approaches that established and used by Mary Leakey, J. Desmond Clark, Glynn Isaac, Eric Boёda, Kathleen Kuman and Ignacio de la Torre respectively are the most representative ones. In this paper, we aim to review and compare those different classification systems and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. On this basis, We will discuss relevant domestic research work in the future.

Key words: The Early Paleolithic, Core, Typology, Flaking method, Cognitive ability

CLC Number: