Identification of Prehistoric handaxe

The tool used as a sample here is an Acheulean Handaxe. Acheulian tools have been found in sites dating between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago. They have been found with the remains of H.erectus, the hominid generally credited with producing them.

The Acheulian is named after the town of St. Acheul, France, where some of the first finds were made. Acheulian tools were produced by percussion flaking. Most characteristic of the Acheulian is the handaxe, a sharp, bifacially flaked stone shaped like a large almond, which would been effective for a variety of chopping and cutting tasks. The handaxe was fashioned by removing many flakes to produce a specific form. In other words, the toolmaker had to be picture a specific shape in a stone.

Stone tool test :

The handaxe has been divided into eight different parts. For reconstruction of the handaxe drag and fill in the parts in the appropriate boxes provided on the right hand side of the page.

Procedure to be followed

  1. Arrange the parts in correct order.
  2. Submit.

Stone tool test 1, 2, Puzzle :

In each experiment a core from which flakes have been extracted is taken. Replicated shapes of the flakes extracted are provided in the left hand side of the page. Drag and fit in the shapes on the appropriate scar present in the core.

Procedure to be followed

  1. Drag replicated shapes and set on the accurate position of the image.
  2. Submit.