Later Acheulian Exotic Stones

In addition to the Later Acheulian symbolic systems, there is a continuation of use of red ochre and exotic crystals and fossils from earlier eras of human evolution (summaries in Bednarik 1994a, 1994c, 1992b; Edwards 1978). The use of red ochre, for which evidence first appears at Wonderwork Cave in the Middle Acheulian, continues into the Later Acheulian. Examples of striated or abraded (used) hematite include Hunsgi, India (Bednarik 1990); Beçov, Czechoslovakia (Marshack 1981); Terra Amata, France (de Lumley 1966); Ambrona, Spain (Howell 1966: 129). The Tan Tan, Morocco, figurine is red ochred (Bednarik 2001).

The collection of exotic objects, which may have had symbolic uses, continues from the Oldowan (Olduvai Gorge quartz crystals) and Middle Acheulian (Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel—quartz crystals and polished wooden plank). Later Acheulian examples include:

• Quartz crystals—some 20, Zhoukoudian, China (Pei 1931); fragment of large crystal with several facets Gudenus Cave, Austria, Acheulian level (Bednarik 1988); 6 complete quartz crystals from different crystal flowers and probably transported to site, Singi Talav, India, lower Acheulian level, >390,000 BP (D’Errico et al 1989; Bednarik 1994b) (see slide below)
• Two pieces of chert from Swanscombe Middle Gravels, c. 400,000 BP, containing Jurassic fossil coral in which the corallites are on average five-sided pentagons and that are manuports from 193 kilometers away (Oakley 1973, 1981) (see slide below)
• Scraper with echinoid cast, Saint-Just-des-Marais, France (Oakley 1973) (see slide below)
• Geometrics, such as spheorids and circular disks, e.g., centripetally flaked sandstone disk Maihar, India (Bednarik 1992a) and similar chalcedony disk Bhimbetka, India (Kumar 1990; Bednarik 1992a); Zhoukoudian and Lantian, China (summarized Bednarik1994c, 1992b)

Photo © as noted. Citations with individual slides.