Homo erectus technological behaviors during the Middle Pleistocene Transition: Engaji Nanyori, Oldupai Gorge
The Acheulean technocomplex is a milestone in the evolutionary adaptability, technological development, and dispersal of Homo erectus. While the earlier phases of the Acheulean have been thoroughly investigated in Eastern Africa, reliably dated assemblages in environmental context spanning the Middle Pleistocene Transition (1.2–0.8 Ma) are extremely rare at a global scale. Engaji Nanyori (Bed III, Oldupai Gorge) is one of a few sites offering a window into Acheulean behavior during this critical period of climatic crisis and aridification. We study lithic assemblages from recent excavations of an Acheulean occupational sequence dated 1.1–0.9 Ma, revealing a stable technological system that focused on flake production by relying on Oldowan-like knapping strategies while rendering infrequent the manufacture of Large Cutting Tools. We present a continental analysis of Acheulean technologies during the Middle Pleistocene transition aimed at exploring the influence of climatic, ecological, and environmental instability on adaptability. Our results underscore the numerous similarities between the technological strategies of Engaji Nanyori and those of the penecontemporary sites, illustrating the uniform character of African Acheulean assemblages regardless of their temporal, geographical or environmental settings.
Authors
- Julien Favreau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2427-9942)
- Arturo Cueva-Temprana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2753-8949)
- Michael D. Petraglia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2522-5727)
- Pamela Akuku (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2165-7709)
- Nicole Boivin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7783-4199)
- Julio Mercader
- María Soto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4154-5384)
- Raquel Hernando (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4873-0657)
- Abdallah Mohamed
- Siobhán Clarke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3489-6338)
- Aloyce Mwambwiga
- Stephen Peter Magohe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0945-1655)
Institutions
- Smithsonian Institution (US)
- Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (ES)
- Griffith University (AU)
- National Museum of Natural History (US)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of Dar es Salaam (TZ)
- Alberta Energy (CA)
- University of Arusha (TZ)
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (ES)
- Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
- Universidad de Burgos (ES)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (ES)
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
- Published
- 2025-08-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02285-5
- Primary Topic
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- University of Dar es Salaam
- Centres de Recerca de Catalunya
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación