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Site formation processes of the early Acheulean assemblage at EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania)

de la Torre, I; Wehr, K; (2018) Site formation processes of the early Acheulean assemblage at EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Journal of Human Evolution , 120 pp. 298-328. 10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.07.002. Green open access

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Abstract

This paper investigates the formation history of the early Acheulean site of EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Our study focuses on the main site (T2-Main Trench) and adjacent trenches (T12 and T9), which constitute the bulk of the archaeological assemblage recently excavated in the EF-HR area (de la Torre et al., submitted). Site formation processes are investigated through taphonomic proxies and spatial analysis, and consider artifact features, orientation patterns, and topographic data retrieved during archaeological excavation. This enables an assessment of the impact of natural agents on the assemblage and a discussion of the relevance of water disturbance in shaping the structure of the EF-HR archaeological record. Our results indicate that fluvial action over the assemblage was significant, although it is likely that EF-HR still preserves areas marginally affected by water sorting and rearrangement. In summary, by applying a novel approach that combines a systematic analysis of artifact attributes with GIS spatial analysis of archaeological remains and topographic features, our study aims to provide a fresh look at the interaction of human and natural agents in the formation of Early Stone Age assemblages at Olduvai Gorge.

Type: Article
Title: Site formation processes of the early Acheulean assemblage at EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania)
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.07.002
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.07.002
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Lithic taphonomy; GIS; Spatial analysis; Fluvial disturbance; Orientation patterns; Post-depositional processes
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1575467
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