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Handaxes Lithic technology 3D Geometric morphometrics Middle Pleistocene Late Pleistocene Benkaneri
Abstract:
Handaxe variability has been attributed to different factors like raw material influence, mental template, non-utilitarian, among others. In this study we analyse the handaxes from the middle Palaeolithic quarry site of Benkaneri from southern Peninsular India. Landmark based Geometric Morphometric (3D) and classical techno-typological methods are used to assess and quantify the handaxe assemblage, especially in terms of their variability. Following this, the factors that result in such variation is examined. Here, we use the attributes of blank types and distal tip shaping to understand their role in the shape differences. The results show that irrespective of the different blank types of cobbles, tabular blocks and flakes, the end product had similar shapes. However, the blank thickness and size seems to have played some role in the resulting shapes. There was a general tendency to produce handaxes with pointed distal ends and the majority of tools were elongated, they didn’t show any correlation with the refinement. In the light of Lower to Middle Palaeolithic transition studies, this integrated methodological study highlights several features in conformity with other nearby regions – the continuation of handaxe forms although decreased in size, increasing use of flake blanks and the continued use of quartzite as preferred raw material. These suggest that the transition between the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic represents a gradual local/regional process.
