The initial work was to bring together the different systems of lithic analysis as used in Spain, France and Britain. There were not only problems of language, but also different philosophical foundations, which has resulted in different meanings for the same terms. To resolve this problem an initial proposed method was produced drawing together the best aspects of each approach, which was then pre-circulated for discussion, prior to a workshop to discuss and iron-out any issues. This has led to a successful system of analysis, which was subsequently used in the handaxe analyses for the project.
For the analyses 10 sites were selected from Spain (Galería and TD10.1 of Gran Dolina, both in Atapuerca), France (La Noira, Cagny la Garenne, Menez Dregan and Saint Pierre les-Elbeuf) and Britain (Brandon Fields, Boxgrove, Elveden and Swanscombe), which were representative for the time period from c. 700,000 to 300,000 years ago. The British sites were all curated at the British Museum, while for the French sites secondment to Paris at Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Additional trips were made to Rennes and Amiens for further collection study. Assemblages from the Spanish site of Atapuerca had already been achieved as part of the PhD of the PI, although additional information was needed to conform to the new system of analysis.
The technological analyses were complemented by the use of structured light scanning with training at Bradford University. The 3D models were used to extract metrical information as well as to apply the geometric morphometrics methodology to analyse the shape of tools. The resulting datasets required robust statistical analysis, with training at IPHES in Tarragona.
The results show how handaxe morphology can be used to show common underlying connections between regions, or on occasion semi-independent development perhaps caused by isolation:
- The earliest Acheulean occupation has fewer sites, perhaps reflecting smaller, isolated populations. There seems to be a technological shift between La Noira (at c. 700,000 years ago) and Brandon Fields (at c. 600,000 years ago), but with a clear standardisation of tool types at each site.
- There is a further technological transition between 500,000 and 400,000 years ago, where larger populations seem to be occupying western Europe. Although there is clear adaptation to different raw materials and local environments, which produce morphological differences, there is still a common underlying technological pattern.
- Atapuerca, Menez Dregan and in some cases Cagny la Garenne and Swanscombe, share technological and morphometrical features between them, showing a pattern of uniformity along the Atlantic coast at about 400,000 years ago.
The project has been disseminated through three papers with one more in preparation. In addition, the new method and the preliminary results have been presented in 12 International conferences and 2 invited seminars. In addition, there has been a final Conference: 'Humans in Transition, the occupation of Western Europe, 600-400ka', British Museum 18th October 2019. There were 12 papers from specialists from Britain, France and Spain, covering changing environments, human evolution and the stone tool assemblages, which focused on better understanding of the dynamics of the human occupation of Western Europe during this period.
