Cross-regional morphometric analysis of Acheulean Cleavers: Insights from India, Levant and Europe

Objective

Understanding the technological diversity of Acheulean artefacts, especially bifacial tools, is crucial for comprehending the cognitive and cultural evolution in early hominin populations. Yet significant gaps remain in understanding how cleaver technology varied regionally and spread across different Pleistocene landscapes. This project addresses significant gaps by conducting the first large-scale comparative analysis of cleavers from three crucial ‘Out of Africa’ corridors: India’s central Narmada Valley, the Levant (Gesher Benot Ya'aqov), and Western Europe (La Noira, Atapuerca, Menez-Dregan). The research will: 1) quantify morpho-technological variability using 3D geometric morphometrics, 2) test functional efficiency and tool performance through experimental use-wear analysis, and 3) evaluate whether observed differences stem from cultural transmission or local innovation. Hosted by the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Spain, and with a secondment at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Spain, the project employs advanced morphometric and microscopic techniques. The expected results will include a more sophisticated understanding of regional variations in Acheulean cleaver techniques and their broader implications for early hominin adaptation and cultural transmission. This project will also enhance the researcher's expertise in Palaeolithic archaeology, digital morphometrics, microscopy, and functional studies. It will foster collaboration among leading research centres in Spain, the Levant, and India. The resulting scientific network will contribute to the researcher's career development, establishing connections with key institutions and expanding knowledge in cutting-edge analytical methods. Beyond individual growth, this project will benefit the field of prehistory as a whole by posing novel questions and providing fresh insights into the development of early technologies.