An examination of the attributes of unprocessed mineral resources, which were chosen and employed by artisanal hominins during the Early Pleistocene epoch at an Acheulian archaeological locale situated in the Ethiopian Highlands between 1.6 and 1 million years ago, has been undertaken by paleoanthropologists.
Handaxes fashioned from side-struck flakes (a-c) and Kombewa flakes (d-f) unearthed at Melka Wakena, Ethiopia. Image attribution: Tegenu Gossa & Erella Hovers, doi: 10.1007/s12520-024-02072-8.
“The two most ancient lithic industries, the Oldowan and the Acheulian, are presently understood to have emerged and disseminated within the East African Rift Valley,” stated Professor Erella Hovers of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, alongside her collaborators.
“The Oldowan, originating 2.6 million years ago, signifies a foundational technological advancement involving the obligatory utilization of percussive techniques, wherein diverse forms of lithic substrates (such as cobbles, nodules, and pebbles) served as percussors to generate rudimentary flakes.”
“The advent of the Acheulian, dating back 1.75 million years ago, arguably presages significant biological and behavioral shifts in hominin lifestyles, frequently correlated with augmented cognitive capacities.”
Within the scope of their investigative endeavor, the researchers directed their attention toward Melka Wakena, a nascent Acheulian site-complex positioned in the south-central Ethiopian Highlands at an elevation ranging from 2,300 to 2,350 meters above sea level.
This archaeological locale encompasses several distinct loci distributed across approximately a 2-kilometer expanse along the western embankment of the Wabe River.
Initial assessments brought to light faunal remnants, comprising 15 species of large vertebrates, with certain animal bones exhibiting anthropogenic modifications.
“Melka Wakena stands as one of the earliest documented sites of human habitation at elevated altitudes,” the investigative team reported.
“Empirical evidence suggests that early hominins engaged in judicious selection processes, guided by considerations such as lithic suitability, resilience, and efficacy.”
“The distinctive high-altitude setting of Melka Wakena furnishes invaluable perspectives into the adaptive strategies adopted by early humans in challenging ecological contexts.”
Through the application of sophisticated digital imaging methodologies, including three-dimensional scanning and photogrammetry, the scientific cadre generated exceptionally detailed digital representations, elucidating the impact of usage on the fabricated lithic implements.
These meticulously crafted models facilitated a granular analysis of wear facets and surface transformations, underscoring the profound influence of raw material characteristics on these alterations, even when subjected to uniform operational conditions.
The resultant findings imply that prehistoric hominins meticulously assessed material properties during the fabrication of tools, thereby demonstrating a noteworthy degree of prescient technological planning and adaptive prowess.
“Our discoveries indicate that early humans were not merely acquiring stones haphazardly,” remarked Professor Hovers.
“Rather, they were involved in intricate decision-making processes concerning the selection of materials best suited to their anticipated requirements, reflecting a sophisticated level of foresight and cognitive complexity.”
The scholarly contributions stemming from this research have been disseminated within the esteemed journal PLoS ONE.
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E. Paixão et al. 2025. Investigating early Acheulian technological decision-making: A controlled experimental methodology for raw material selection in the creation of percussive artifacts at Melka Wakena, Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 20 (1): e0314039; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314039
