First Flakes Lab Worksheet First Flakes
Oldowan and Acheulean Typological Lab
Lithic Tech Series
Lab No. 01
Student Name
Date
The Chaîne Opératoire of Early Lithics
Early stone tool production represents the first tangible evidence of human cognitive evolution. In this lab, you will analyze the transition from the opportunistic flakes of the Oldowan industry (c. 2.6 – 1.7 Ma) to the standardized, symmetrical bifaces of the Acheulean (c. 1.7 Ma – 250 ka). Focus on identifying the striking platform , bulb of percussion , and bifacial thinning .
1
Oldowan "Mode 1" Typology
Analyze the provided core/chopper specimen. Identify the primary percussion features.
Percussion Type Assessment
Cortex Percentage (%)
Sketch the ventral surface and label the Bulb of Percussion .
2
Acheulean "Mode 2" Bifacial Symmetry
Cognitive Exercise: The Template Theory
Acheulean handaxes require the knapper to hold a "mental template" of the finished tool before the first strike. This is known as imposed form .
Comparative Analysis: Bifacial Thinning vs. Core Chopping
How does the removal of small, invasive flakes on an Acheulean handaxe differ cognitively from the large, deep removals of an Oldowan core?
Symmetry Index Observation
Retouch Analysis
3
Evolutionary Implications
Discuss the transition from Oldowan to Acheulean in the context of hominin brain lateralization and the development of language. Use specific lithic features (e.g., edge regularity, standardized shapes) to support your argument.
Archaeology Lab Series // Module 01-A // Auth. L. Stone
First Flakes Presentation Slides First Flakes
The Genesis of Human Technology
Oldowan & Acheulean Lithic Industries
The Lithic Revolution
2.6 Million Years of Innovation
Material Agency
Early stone tools are not just "rocks"—they are the externalization of human thought and intent.
Cognitive Leaps
Transition from opportunistic flakes to "mental templates" and standardized symmetry.
Diagram: Percussion Dynamics
01. Oldowan Industry
Lomekwian vs. Oldowan
Earliest tools (3.3 Ma) vs. the classic Mode 1 assemblage (2.6 Ma). Simple flakes and cores.
Core Tools
Choppers, discoids, and polyhedrons. Primitive but functional.
Flake Tools
The sharp by-products used for butchery and woodworking.
SPECIMEN ANALYSIS:
"Expedient production: No evidence of long-term planning or standardized shaping."
Acheulean Symmetry
1.7 Ma – 250 ka
The Biface
Flaked on both sides. Teardrop or ovate shape. Imposed symmetry across two axes.
Cognitive Complexity
Proleptic Thought (planning)
Spatial Geometry
Teaching and Social Learning
Image: Handaxe Symmetry Analysis
Comparing African vs. European specimens
Hard vs. Soft Hammer
Hard Hammer
Using a stone cobble to strike another stone.
Flake Scars Deep, prominent
Bulb of Percuss. Significant
Era Oldowan / Early Acheul.
Soft Hammer
Using antler, bone, or hardwood for thinning.
Flake Scars Shallow, invasive
Edge Quality Thin, razor-sharp
Era Late Acheulean / Middle Pal.
Cognitive Milestone
"The Acheulean handaxe is the first evidence of humans projecting a design onto the natural world. It marks the birth of the engineer."
Discussion 01
Does symmetry indicate aesthetic appreciation or purely functional utility?
Discussion 02
How did meat-eating (facilitated by tools) fuel brain growth?
Levallois Puzzle Lab Activity The Levallois Puzzle
Reconstructing Prepared-Core Sequences
Simulation Activity
LAB-02-B
The Challenge of Foresight
The Levallois technique (Middle Paleolithic, c. 300 – 40 ka) is a prepared-core method. Unlike earlier industries, the knapper must carefully shape the entire stone (core) to pre-determine the size and shape of a single, final "preferential" flake. This requires multi-stage planning and abstract visualization.
01
The Chain of Logic (Refitting)
Examine the refitted core diagram (Fig. A). Number the sequence of flake removals from 1 (earliest/exterior) to 6 (the final preferential flake).
Step A
Decortication (removal of outer skin)
Step B
Lateral Preparation (shaping the convexities)
Step C
Platform Preparation (striking point)
Step D
Preferential Strike (final removal)
[Fig A: Core Cross-Section Diagram Space]
Refitting analysis box
02
Efficiency Analysis
Metric Acheulean (Mode 2) Levallois (Mode 3) Raw Material Waste High. Much of the mass is lost to thinning flakes. Predictability Moderate. Shape emerges during reduction. Portability Medium. Handaxes are bulky tools.
03
Neanderthal Cognition
"Levallois is not just a tool-making method; it is a cognitive strategy for managing risk and resources in fluctuating environments."
Based on your simulation, respond to the following: How does the "refitting" of a core allow archaeologists to reconstruct the decision-making process of an extinct hominin species? What does the Levallois technique specifically tell us about Neanderthal foresight?
Lithic Lab Series // Prepared-Core Simulation // Level: Undergrad
Prepared Minds Presentation Slides Lithic Series 02
Prepared Minds
The Levallois Technique & Mousterian Industry
Mode 3 Neanderthals
The Levallois Strategy
Concept: "Preferential Flake"
Paradigm Shift
From "reducing a rock" to "preparing a core" for a specific result. The shape of the flake is determined before it is struck.
Visualization of Internal Geometry
Complex Multi-Step Operative Chain
[Interactive Diagram: Core Surface Convexities]
"Managing the carapace: The importance of lateral and distal convexities."
03. The Mousterian World
Diverse Toolkit
Over 60 recognized tool types (Bordes Typology).
Composite Tools
Evidence for hafting: Stone points attached to wooden shafts with mastic/tar.
Key Typologies
Sidescrapers (Racloirs)
Used for hide preparation and woodworking.
Denticulates
Notched tools, potentially for stripping bark or fiber.
Levallois Points
Standardized, sharp tips for hunting spears.
Quina Retouch
Heavy, steep retouching on thick flakes.
Archaeological Debate
Primitive or Peer?
"The technical mastery of the Levallois technique suggests that Neanderthals possessed high levels of working memory, executive function, and linguistic capacity required for instruction."
300k
Years of Success
Fire Use & Birch Tar
Social Care & Burial
Chaîne Opératoire
1. Procurement
Selecting high-quality flint or chert. Evidence of transport over 50km.
01
2. Preparation
Shaping the core to create specific convexities. "Remontage."
02
3. Production
Striking the preferential flake. Maximum edge per gram of stone.
03
4. Use & Re-sharpening
The life-history of the tool. Curation and recycling.
04
Blade Revolution Lab Worksheet The Blade Revolution
Upper Paleolithic Efficiency & Culture
Assemblage Analysis
UP-MOD-03
Prismatic Blade Technology
Beginning c. 45,000 BP, Mode 4 technology saw the transition from flakes to blades —lithics that are at least twice as long as they are wide. Using indirect percussion (with a punch), knappers could produce dozens of standardized blanks from a single prismatic core.
"Efficiency increase: One kilo of flint produces roughly 40cm of cutting edge in the Acheulean, 2m in the Mousterian, and over 20m in the Upper Paleolithic."
Key Innovations
Bone/Antler Tools
Microliths & Composite tools
Pressure Flaking
The Burin (engraving tool)
Regional Assemblage Matrix
Identify the characteristic tool types and chronological ranges for each European Upper Paleolithic culture.
Culture Chronology (BP) Diagnostic Tool / Artifact Cognitive/Social Shift Aurignacian 43k – 33k Split-base bone points, Dufour bladelets Earliest art & music Gravettian 33k – 21k Backed bladelets, 'Venus' figurines Broad social networks Solutrean 22k – 17k LGM adaptations Magdalenian 17k – 12k Harpoon tech / Cave art peak
The Spear-Thrower (Atlatl)
Functional Analysis
The atlatl acts as an extension of the human arm, increasing the leverage and rotational velocity of the throw. This allows a hunter to kill large game from a safe distance (up to 30-40 meters).
Student Prompt:
How does the development of distance hunting tools like the atlatl change human social organization and the division of labor during the Upper Paleolithic?
Physics Diagram Space
Sketch the mechanical advantage: Lever, Fulcrum, and Force Vector.
Paleolithic Tech Series // Module 03-C // Undergrad Research Guide
Blade Revolution Presentation Slides Upper Paleolithic
The Blade Revolution
Efficiency, Specialization, and the Birth of Cultural Identity
Mode 4
Composite
The Prismatic Leap
45k – 12k BP
Technological Definition
"A blade is a flake with parallel sides, at least twice as long as it is wide, struck from a specially prepared prismatic core."
10x Efficiency
Edge length per weight of flint
Indirect Percussion
The use of bone/antler punches
Blade Core Dynamics
[Illustration: Prismatic Core vs. Removed Blades]
Innovation Beyond Stone
Organic Material
Exploitation of osseous materials (bone, antler, ivory). Harder, more durable, and flexible than stone for specific tasks.
• Needles (sewn clothing)
• Harpoons
• Projectile points
The Burin
The "Swiss Army Knife" of the UP. A chisel-edged tool designed specifically for working bone and engraving.
Key Function
Groove-and-Splinter Technique
Composite Tools
Microlithic inserts set into wood or bone handles. Modular design: if one piece breaks, it can be replaced easily.
The Spear-Thrower
Mechanical advantage in the Paleolithic
Functional Impact
Distance = Safety from megafauna
Increased kinetic energy at impact
New social structures (hunting parties)
The Physics of the Throw
Effective Range 30 – 50 Meters
Velocity Increase +150% over hand-throw
Earliest Evidence c. 18,000 BP (Solutrean)
Diagram: Rotational leverage of the Atlatl
Cultural Fragmentation
AURIGNACIAN
The Arrival
Bone points & Beads
GRAVETTIAN
Social Network
Venus Figurines
SOLUTREAN
Lithic Artistry
Laurel-leaf blades
MAGDALENIAN
The Rebound
Harpoons & Cave Art
"For the first time, we see distinct regional tool styles that reflect social identity and territoriality rather than just functional need."
Painted Caves Seminar Worksheet The Cave Mind
Parietal Art & Theoretical Frameworks
Analysis Seminar
PA-SYM-04
Competing Interpretations
Archaeologists have moved beyond "Art for Art's Sake" to explain why Upper Paleolithic humans ventured deep into dark, dangerous caves to create complex iconography. Read the summaries below and answer the critique prompts.
01 Structuralism (Leroi-Gourhan)
Caves are structured spaces with deliberate layouts. Animals represent binary oppositions (Male/Female, Horse/Bison). The art is a "mythogram" or visual language reflecting the structure of the human mind.
Critique: Does the "structure" hold across different sites and time periods (e.g., Chauvet vs. Lascaux)?
02 Shamanistic Ritual (Lewis-Williams)
Art is a record of Altered States of Consciousness (ASC). Geometric signs are "entoptic phenomena" seen during trances. The cave wall is a "veil" between worlds; animals emerge from the rock.
Critique: Is it ethnocentric to project modern San or Inuit shamanism onto 30,000-year-old European cultures?
Iconographic Element Analysis
Examine a provided image of the "Panel of the Lions" (Chauvet Cave) or "The Shaft Scene" (Lascaux). Focus on the following attributes:
Perspective & Motion
Observations on shading, overlapping, and "animation."
Superimposition
Analysis of layered images over centuries. Palimpsest?
Signs & Symbols
Non-figurative dots, hand stencils, and tectiforms.
Acoustic Archaeology
"Studies have shown a high correlation between the location of cave art and the acoustic resonance of the cave chamber. Did the sound of chanting or flutes dictate where the spirits were 'awakened' on the walls?"
Seminar Discussion Questions:
1. If art is linked to sound, what does this suggest about the multisensory nature of Paleolithic ritual?
2. How does the concept of "Landscape Archaeology" apply to the interior of a cave? Is the cave a landscape or a building?
Paleolithic Symbolism Series // Seminar 04-A // Chauvet / Lascaux / Altamira
The Cave Canvas Presentation Slides Parietal Art
The Cave Canvas
Exploring Symbolism, Ritual, and the Upper Paleolithic Mind
The Big Three
Chauvet
c. 36,000 BP
Deep perspective, predatory animals (lions, bears, rhinos). Sophisticated use of charcoal and scraping.
"The Genesis of Art"
Lascaux
c. 17,000 BP
The "Sistine Chapel of Prehistory." Polychrome paintings of horses, bison, and deer. Complex narrative panels.
"Symphony of Color"
Altamira
c. 15,000 BP
Integration of rock relief. Bison painted onto natural ceiling bulges to create 3D effects.
"Sculpting with Paint"
The Shamanic Lens
Neuropsychological Model
David Lewis-Williams argues that cave art is the product of trances. The caves served as physical metaphors for the journey into the subconscious.
Signs
Entoptic Phenomena
Walls
Membranes/Veils
Case Study: Hand Stencils
"Reaching through the rock to the spirit world beyond."
The Sound of the Past
Art is often found at points of maximum resonance. These locations were chosen for their acoustic properties as much as their visual ones.
Evidence
Bone flutes found in art chambers
Echo-mapping of painting density
Ritualized chanting/drumming theories
Interactive Map
Click to play resonant frequencies of the "Sanctuary" in Lascaux
The Symbolic Mind
"Paleolithic art is not just decoration. It is a fundamental shift in human cognition—the ability to store information externally and navigate the world through symbols."
Territoriality
Marking spaces and solidifying group identity during environmental stress.
Instruction
Transmitting ecological knowledge about animal behavior across generations.
Portable Past Project Worksheet Portable Past
Mobilary Art and the Venus Phenomenon
Spatial Analysis Project
MOB-SYM-05
Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel (Sketch Area)
The Anthropomorphic Leap
Dated to c. 40,000 BP (Aurignacian), the Lion Man is the oldest known zoomorphic sculpture. Carved from mammoth ivory with flint tools, it represents a being that does not exist in nature.
Analysis Prompt:
How does the imaginary nature of the Lion Man indicate a different level of cognitive complexity compared to figurative cave paintings of real animals?
The Venus Network
Between 28,000 and 21,000 BP (Gravettian), stylized female figurines appeared across Eurasia—from France to Siberia. Despite the vast distances, they share remarkable stylistic consistency.
Common Attributes
Faceless / Abstract heads
Exaggerated secondary sexual traits
Diminutive limbs/feet
Often made of ivory or limestone
Mapping Social Continuity
If figurines in Siberia and figurines in Austria share the same "look," what does this tell us about Upper Paleolithic social networks?
Closing Seminar: The Human Story
"Is it possible that these objects functioned as 'passports' or 'tokens of alliance' between groups navigating an unstable Ice Age landscape?"
Notes on social aggregation and risk management...
Identity Theory
How do ornaments (beads, pendants) and figurines help construct personal and group identity during the Upper Paleolithic expansion?
Symbolic Storage
Compare 'Mobilary' art (portable) to 'Parietal' art (fixed). Which is more effective for long-distance cultural transmission?
Paleolithic Final Module // Project 05-A // Social Networks & Mobilary Art
Portable Past Presentation Slides Final Session
Portable Past
Mobilary Art and the Dawn of Global Social Networks
The Lion Man
40,000 BP
3D Model Visualization
Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany
Imaginative Leap
First evidence of Zoomorphism —merging human and animal forms. This requires the ability to conceive of things that do not exist in reality.
400
Hours to carve from ivory
Investment of significant community time
The "Venus" Phenomenon
Willendorf
AUSTRIA // 25k BP
Limestone with red ochre. Most famous example of stylistic exaggeration.
Věstonice
CZECHIA // 29k BP
Earliest known use of ceramics (fired clay). Designed to explode?
Brassempouy
FRANCE // 25k BP
The "Lady with the Hood." Realistic facial details carved in ivory.
Kostyonki
RUSSIA // 22k BP
Vast distance from Western sites, yet shares identical stylistic motifs.
The First Social Network
How do we explain a "tradition" that spans 3,000 kilometers and 5,000 years with no central government?
Interpretations
Grandmothers as the nexus of lineage
Ritual tokens for distant alliances
Managing risk in the Glacial Maximum
Spatial Map
[Map: Distribution of Gravettian Figurines]
"Style as a signal of belonging in an empty world."
The Paleolithic Mind
From the first Oldowan flake to the shared symbols of the Venus network, technology and art have always been our primary adaptive strategies.
01. Adaptation
Tools allowed us to exit our ecological niche.
02. Symbols
Art allowed us to share complex mental worlds.
03. Society
Networks allowed us to survive the Ice Age.
