Cognition and communication in the Levantine lower palaeolithic

Abstract

The issue of tracing the mental abilities of prehistoric hominids is overwhelming in its complexity. Not only are there different schools of thought as regards the very feasibility of such an enterprise, but we are also facing difficulties in obtaining relevant data and their interpretation. For a while it seemed as if lithic studies could contribute but little to this domain of prehistoric research. However, it seems that there is a breakthrough both in concepts and methods which enables us a glimpse into the workings of the mind of the prehistoric flint knappers. The present article discusses the findings from the technological studies of two Levantine early Acheulian assemblages. The reconstruction of the procedures undertaken by the early hominids in order to produce discrete artefact types clearly illustrates the existence of complex cognitive abilities, rather similar to those of modern humans.

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