Functional analysis of Acheleuan lithic industry of Thiongo Korongo (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania): the case study for flakes and bifaces

Abstract

In this paper we will present an ongoing research about the function of Acheulean flakes and LTC´s recovered at Thiongo Korongo (TK) (Upper section of Olduvai’s Bed II, ca. 1.353 ± 0.035 Ma.). Our hypothesis is that these assemblages could reflect actual evidence of various activities developed at the site other than knapping. The presence of faunal remains, including different species of large mammals, suggest that butchery and carcass processing activities could potentially have been realized there. The variability of formats and tools present support the idea that other activities (e.g. wood working, digging, tuber / vegetable processing, etc.) could also have been performed at the site. These hypotheses are relevant to our understanding of the extent of activities that took place during the Acheulean and the function, technological variability and the settlement dynamics of the site.