The Clactonian : British Lower Palaeolithic flint technology in biface and non-biface assemblages
Traditionally the British Lower Palaeolithic is divided into two major cultural/industrial traditions, a simplistic non-biface assemblage type known as the Clactonian, and a technologically more sophisticated biface assemblage type known as the Acheulian. Technological analysis clearly demonstrates a previously unrecognised parity between the core reduction strategies present in biface and non-biface assemblages. This conclusion is supported in the failure to identify a real difference between the hard hammer flake elements in either type of assemblage. Furthermore, the pattern c7 retouch present in all non-biface assemblages is present in all biface assemblages. This also extends to the previously undescribed retouch category termed 'flaked flake'. The only exception to this is the lack of morphologically regular scrapers in non-biface assemblages. However, it is demonstrated that this is only a reflection of which non-biface assemblages were, traditionally chosen for study. Technological analysis further demonstrated that variability was a hallmark of all the eleven assemblages studied. This was present between assemblages within the same assemblage type, and, to a lesser extent, between the two assemblage
McNabb, John
Archaeology
The Clactonian : British Lower Palaeolithic flint technology in biface and non-biface assemblages. Traditionally the British Lower Palaeolithic is divided into two major cultural/industrial traditions, a simplistic non-biface assemblage type known as the Clactonian, and a technologically more sophisticated biface assemblage type known as the Acheulian. Technological analysis clearly demonstrates a previously unrecognised parity between the core reduction strategies present in biface and non-biface assemblages. This conclusion is supported in the failure to identify a real difference between the hard hammer flake elements in either type of assemblage. Furthermore, the pattern c7 retouch present in all non-biface assemblages is present in all biface assemblages. This also extends to the previously undescribed retouch category termed 'flaked flake'. The only exception to this is the lack of morphologically regular scrapers in non-biface assemblages. However, it is demonstrated that this is only a reflection of which non-biface assemblages were, traditionally chosen for study. Technological analysis further demonstrated that variability was a hallmark of all the eleven assemblages studied. This was present between assemblages within the same assemblage type, and, to a lesser extent, between the two assemblage
british lower_palaeolithic flint technology non assemblage traditionally british lower_palaeolithic divide_two major cultural industrial tradition simplistic non assemblage type know technologically sophisticated assemblage type know technological_analysis clearly demonstrate previously unrecognised core reduction strategy present non assemblage conclusion support failure identify real difference hard flake element either type assemblage furthermore pattern present non assemblage present assemblage also extend previously undescribed category term flake exception lack morphologically regular non assemblage however demonstrated reflection non assemblage traditionally choose study technological_analysis demonstrate variability hallmark eleven assemblage study present assemblage within assemblage type less_extent assemblage