Problems and pitfalls in understanding the clactonian

Abstract

The Clactonian is a stone tool industry dating to MIS 11 and found in southern England. Its maker is currently thought to be Homo heidelbergensis, a hominin species known to make handaxes in Britain before and after the Clactonian. Currently, neither direct nor proxy dating techniques are able to establish a clear contemporaneity between the Clactonian and the Acheulean. Clactonian technology is a basic one, in that it is dedicated to the production of sharp edges. Clactonian sites are usually located near to water bodies or rivers where raw material (flint) is present. Its contemporary interpretation is influenced by the culture-historical approach, prevalent in the 1920s and 1930s when the Clactonian was first identified. This paper briefly reviews the historical context of the industry. It then places modern interpretations in the broader contemporary Middle Pleistocene chrono-stratigraphic and environmental context. Although no overarching new interpretation of the Clactonian is offered, convergent evolution can be seen to explain some of the patterns seen in Clactonian knapping technology. However, it cannot explain the Clactonian phenomenon itself. Some important points for future consideration in the Clactonian debate are presented.